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} - -.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} - -sup { vertical-align: top; font-size: 0.65em; line-height: 1.0;} - -.gesperrt -{ - letter-spacing: 0.1em; - margin-right: -0.1em; -} - -em.gesperrt -{ - font-style: normal; -} - -/* Images */ - -img { - max-width: 100%; - height: auto; -} -img.w80 {width: 80%;} -img.w35 {width: 25%;} - - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: .4em; - font-size: .7em; - text-decoration: none; - margin-top: 0; -} - -/* Poetry */ -.poetry-container {text-align: center;} -.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; font-size: 80%;} -/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry in browsers */ -/* .poetry {display: inline-block;} */ -.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} -.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} -/* large inline blocks don't split well on paged devices */ -@media print { .poetry {display: block;} } -.x-ebookmaker .poetry {display: block;} - -/* Poetry indents */ -.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -1em;} -.poetry .indent3 {text-indent: 0em;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -div.tnbox { background-color:#C4F8E1; border:0.25em solid silver; - padding: 0.5em; margin:2em 10% 0 10%; } - - </style> - -</head> - - - -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bismarck: some secret pages of his history (Vol. 1 of 3), by Moritz Busch</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Bismarck: some secret pages of his history (Vol. 1 of 3)</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Moritz Busch</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 30, 2022 [eBook #68651]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Tim Lindell, Bryan Ness, Neil Mercer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BISMARCK: SOME SECRET PAGES OF HIS HISTORY (VOL. 1 OF 3) ***</div> - -<!--Cover image--> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Cover image" class="w80" /> -</div> - -<!--Top TN--> - -<div class="section"> -<div class="tnbox"> - -<p class="center firstpara fs125">Transcriber's Note</p> -</div> - -<p class="sp2">The cover image was created by the transcriber, and is in the public domain.</p> - -</div> - -<!--Half-title & colophon--> - -<div class="section"> - -<p class="center fs150 sp4">BISMARCK</p> - -<p class="center sp1">SOME SECRET PAGES OF HIS HISTORY</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/colophon.png" alt="" class="w35 sp4" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -</div> - -<!--Title page--> - -<div class="section"> - -<h1 title="BISMARCK:">BISMARCK<br /> - -<span class="fs45">SOME SECRET PAGES OF HIS HISTORY</span></h1> - -<p class="center sp4 fs80">BEING A DIARY KEPT BY</p> - -<p class="center"><span class="gesperrt"><span class="smcap"><abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr></span> MORITZ BUSCH</span></p> - -<p class="center fs80">DURING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE -INTERCOURSE WITH THE GREAT CHANCELLOR</p> - - -<p class="center sp4 fs80"><i>IN THREE VOLUMES</i></p> - -<p class="center"><abbr title="Volume">VOL.</abbr> <abbr title="1">I</abbr></p> - - -<p class="center sp4"><b>London</b></p> - -<p class="center"><span class="gesperrt">MACMILLAN AND <abbr title="Company">CO.</abbr>, <span class="smcap">Limited</span></span></p> - -<p class="center fs80">NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</p> - -<p class="center">1898</p> - -<p class="center sp1 fs65"><i>All rights reserved</i></p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="section"> -<p class="center sp4 fs80"><span class="smcap">Richard Clay and Sons, Limited,</span></p> -<p class="center fs80"><span class="allsmcap">LONDON AND BUNGAY.</span></p> - -<p class="center sp1 fs80"><i>Copyright in the United States of America.</i> -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>NOTE</h2> -</div> - -<p>The English edition of <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Busch’s work which we -publish to-day has been translated from the original -German text in the possession of the publishers. A -few passages have, however, been omitted as defamatory, -or otherwise unsuitable for publication. <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> -Busch contemplated incorporating bodily in the first -volume a reproduction of his earlier work: <cite>Prince -Bismarck and his People during the Franco-German -War</cite>; but while the many valuable additions which -he made to it have been preserved, such portions as -would no longer have presented any special interest -for English readers have been considerably abridged.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>PREFACE</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara">The work which I now present to the German -people contains a complete<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> account of all the events of -which I was a witness during my intercourse of over -twenty years with Prince Bismarck and his entourage. -Part of it is not entirely new, as I have embodied in it -portions of the book published by me in 1878, under -the title: <cite>Prince Bismarck and his People during the -Franco-German War</cite>. I have, however, restored the -numerous passages which it was then deemed expedient -to omit, and I have also dispensed with the many -modifications by which, at that time, certain asperities -of language had to be toned down. The bulk of the -present work consists of a detailed narrative of the -whole period of my intercourse with the Prince both -before and after the French campaign. I collected and -noted down all these particulars respecting Prince -Bismarck and his immediate supporters and assistants, -in the first place for my own use, and secondly as a -contribution to the character and history of the -Political Regenerator of Germany. The sole object of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[p. viii]</span> -the diary which forms the basis of this work was to -serve as a record of the whole truth so far as I had -been able to ascertain it with my own eyes and ears. -Any other object was out of the question, as it was -impossible that I could desire to deceive myself. -Subsequently, when I thought of publishing my notes, -I was fully conscious of my responsibility towards -history, the interests of which could not be promoted -by material that had been coloured or garbled for party -purposes. I wished neither to be an eulogist nor a censor. -To my mind, panegyric was superfluous, and fault-finding -was for me an impossibility. A tendency to -the sensational is foreign to my nature, and I leave the -pleasure to be derived from grand spectacular shows to -lovers of the theatre. I desired to record the mental -and other characteristics which our first Chancellor presented -to me under such and such circumstances, thus -helping to complete, and at times to rectify, the conception -of his whole nature that has been formed in the -public mind from his political activity. The profound -reverence which I feel for the genius of the hero, and -my patriotic gratitude for his achievements, have not -deterred me from communicating numerous details -which will be displeasing to many persons. These particulars, -however, are part of the historic character of -the personality whom I am describing. The gods alone -are free from error, passion, and changes of disposition. -They alone have no seamy side and no contradictions. -Even the sun and moon show spots and blemishes, but -notwithstanding these they remain magnificent celestial<span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[p. ix]</span> -orbs. The picture produced out of the materials which -I have here brought together may present harsh and -rough features, but it has hardly a single ignoble trait. -Its crudeness only adds to its truth to nature, its -individuality, and its clearness of outline. This figure -does not float in an ethereal atmosphere, it is firmly -rooted in earth and breathes of real life, yet it conveys -a sense of something superhuman. It must furthermore -be remembered that many of the bitter remarks, -such as those made previous to March, 1890, were the -result of temporary irritation, while others were perfectly -justified. The strong self-confidence manifested -in some of these utterances, and the angry expression -of that need for greater power and more liberty of -action, common to all men of genius and energetic -character, arose from the consciousness that, while he -alone knew the true object to be pursued and the -fitting means for its achievement, his knowledge could -not be applied because the right of final decision on all -occasions belonged by hereditary privilege to more or -less mediocre and narrow minds.</p> - -<p>I will allow the Prince himself to answer the -question as to my authority for communicating to -others without any reserve all that I ascertained during -my intercourse with him. “Once I am dead you can -tell everything you like, absolutely everything you -know,” said Prince Bismarck to me in the course of a -conversation I had with him on the 24th of February, -1879. I saw clearly in the way in which he looked at -me that, in addition to the permission I had already<span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">[p. x]</span> -received on previous occasions, he wished that I should -then consider myself entirely free and expressly released -from certain former engagements, some of which had -been assumed by myself, while others had been imposed -upon me. Since then my knowledge increased owing -to his growing confidence in me, while his authorisation -and the desire that I should use what I knew to the -advantage of his memory remained undiminished. On -the 21st of March, 1891, during one of my last visits to -Friedrichsruh, the Prince—apparently prompted by a -notice which he had read in the newspapers—remarked, -“Little Busch (Büschlein) will one day, long after my -death, write the secret history of our time from the -best sources of information.” I answered “Yes, Prince; -but it will not be a history, properly speaking, as I am -not capable of that. Nor will it be <em>long</em> after your -death—which we naturally pray to be deferred as long -as possible—but on the contrary very soon after, -without any delay. In these corrupt times, the truth -cannot be known too soon.” The Prince made no -answer, but I understood his silence to indicate -approval. Finally, in the preceding year he had -affirmed the absolutely unrestricted character of my -authority. On the 15th of March, 1890, when the -measures for his dismissal were already in progress, and -he himself was engaged in packing up a variety of -papers preparatory to his journey (a work in which I -was allowed to assist him), he asked me to copy a number -of important documents for him and to retain the -originals and copies in my possession. On his remarking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">[p. xi]</span> -that I could get these documents copied, I called his -attention to the fact that a stranger might betray their -contents to third parties. He replied, “Oh, I am not -afraid of that! He can if he likes! I have no secrets -amongst them—absolutely none.” That statement, “I -have no secrets,” gave me liberty, at least for a later -time, to publish those State papers the contents of -which I had hitherto kept secret, as he must unquestionably -have known better than I or the rest of the -world who may have held other views on the subject.</p> - -<p>So far respecting the essential point. That he -whom I honour as the first of men sanctioned my -undertaking is entirely sufficient for me. I do not ask -whether others give it their blessing. The great -majority of those referred to have since departed from -this life and taken their places in the domain of history, -where the claim for indulgent treatment is no longer -valid. Those who are still with us may believe me -when I assure them that in now publishing these pages -I have no thought of causing them pain or of injuring -them in any way. I simply consider that I am not at -liberty to preserve silence on those matters which may -prove unpleasant to them in view both of my own -duty to tell the whole truth, and of the desire expressed -by the Chancellor (to whom I still feel myself bound in -obedience) that nothing should be concealed. The -diplomatic world, in particular, must be represented -here as it really is. In that respect this book may be -described as a mirror for diplomatists.</p> - -<p>I must leave the reader to form his own opinion as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">[p. xii]</span> -to my capacity for observation and the discovery of the -truth. I may, however, be allowed to say that several -long journeys in America and the East, a lengthy tour -in Schleswig-Holstein during the Danish rule, undertaken -for the purpose of reconnoitring that country, -and a period of rather confidential intercourse with the -Augustenburg Court at Kiel were calculated to sharpen -my wits. A mission which I filled at Hanover during -the year of transition, and, above all, my position in -the Foreign Office in Berlin and the intimate relations -in which I stood towards its Chief during the war with -France, together with the renewal of that intercourse -from 1877 onwards, gave me exceptional opportunities -of developing both my memory and power of observation. -For several years I was acquainted with -everything that went on in the Central Bureau of the -German Foreign Office, and later, in addition to what I -ascertained through the confidence of the Prince, I -obtained not a little information from Lothar Bucher -which remained a secret, not only for private persons, -but often for high officials of the Ministry.</p> - -<p>The diary on which my work is based, and which -is often reproduced literally, gives the truest possible -account of the events and expressions which I have -personally seen and heard in the presence and immediate -vicinity of the Prince. The latter is everywhere the -leading figure around which all the others are grouped. -The task I set myself, as a close observer and chronicler -who conscientiously sifted his facts, was to give a true -account of what I had been commissioned to do as the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">[p. xiii]</span> -Prince’s Secretary in connection with press matters, -and to describe how he and his entourage conducted -themselves during the campaign in France, how he -lived and worked, the opinions he expressed at the -dinner and tea table, and on other occasions, respecting -persons and things of that time, what he related of his -past experiences, and finally, after our return from the -great war, what I ascertained respecting the progress of -diplomatic negotiations from the despatches which were -then exchanged and of which I was at liberty to make -use either immediately or at a later period. I was -assisted in the fulfilment of this task by my faculty of -concentration, which my reverence for the Prince and -the practice which I had in the course of my official -duties rendered gradually more intense, and by a -memory which although not naturally above the average -was also developed by constant exercise to such a -degree that in a short time it enabled me to retain all -the main points of long explanations and stories, both -serious and humorous, from the Chancellor’s lips -almost literally, until such time as I could commit -them to paper—that is to say, unless anything special -intervened, a mishap which I was usually able to avert. -The particulars here given were accordingly, almost -without exception, written down within an hour after -the conversations therein referred to occurred. For -the most part they were jotted down immediately on -small slips of paper, only the points and principal -catchwords being noted, but which made it easy, however, -to complete the whole entry later on.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">[p. xiv]</span></p> - -<p>This sharp ear and faithful memory, joined with a -quick eye, stood me in good stead in the years of -welcome service which I undertook as a private individual -for the Prince. To these and to the habit of -putting all that I had experienced, seen, and heard in -black on white without delay, I owe the accurate -accounts of the memorable conversation of the 11th of -April, 1877, of the visit to Varzin and the statements -made by the Chancellor on that occasion, as well as the -long list of detailed reports of pregnant and characteristic -conversations that I had with him from the -year 1878 up to 1890 in the palace and garden at -Berlin when, at times of crisis or under other circumstances, -I was either invited by the Prince or called -on him without invitation for the purpose of obtaining -news for the <cite lang="de">Grenzboten</cite> or foreign newspapers. I kept -up the same habit of committing everything of moment -to paper during my various visits of shorter or longer -duration between the years 1883 and 1889 to Friedrichsruh, -where in the year last mentioned I was -engaged for several weeks in arranging the Prince’s -private letters and other documents. This custom also -served me well in that ever memorable week in March, -1890, when I spent some of the darkest days of that -period in the Prince’s immediate vicinity, nor did it -fail me when I again greeted him in the Sachsenwald in -1891 and 1893, and was able to convince myself that -in the interval his confidence in me had as little -diminished as had my loyalty towards him.</p> - -<p>Whoever is familiar with the style in which the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">[p. xv]</span> -Prince was accustomed to express his thoughts when in -the company of his intimate associates will be at once -impressed with the genuineness of the instructions, -conversations and anecdotes communicated in the -following pages. He will find them almost without -exception literally reproduced. In the anecdotes and -stories, in particular, he will nearly always observe the -characteristic ellipses, the unexpressed pre-suppositions, -and the manner in which the Prince was apt to jump -from point to point in his narratives, reminding one of -the style of the old ballads. He will also at times note -a humorous vein running through the Prince’s remarks -and frequently become conscious of a thread of semi-naïve -self irony. All these features were characteristic -of the Chancellor’s manner of speaking. It is therefore -hardly necessary for me to add that my reports, with -all their roughness and sturdy ruggedness, are photographs -that have not been retouched. In other words, -I believe that I have not only been quick to observe, -but I also feel that I have not intentionally omitted -anything that was worth reproducing. I have neither -blurred any features nor brought others into too sharp -relief. I have put in no high lights, and above all I -have added nothing of my own, nor tried to secure a -place in history for my own wisdom by palming it off -as Bismarck’s. Any omissions that now remain (there -can hardly be more than a dozen in all of any importance) -are indicated by dots or dashes. In cases -where I have not quite understood a speaker, attention -is called to the fact. Should any contradiction be discovered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi">[p. xvi]</span> -between earlier and later statements <em>my</em> -memory must not be held responsible for them. If I -am blamed for the fragmentary character of my recital -then all memoirs must be rejected. If I am reproached -with not having produced a work of art, I believe I have -already made it sufficiently clear that I never intended -anything of the kind. I desired, on the contrary, so far -as it was in my power, to serve the truth, and that -alone. Nevertheless, my work may not only be utilised -by historians, but may also possibly inspire a dramatist -or a poet. Such a writer must, however, be no sentimentalist, -and no idealist. It would be wise for him -and for others to let themselves be guided by some -counsels of experience which will be useful as a warning -against certain misunderstandings both as to the sources -of my information and the degree of my credulity. -These counsels have always been present to my mind, -although, perhaps, through a sense of politeness towards -the public, or even, it may be, a real confidence in their -common sense, I have rarely thought it necessary to call -attention to the fact. This advice I propose to repeat -here in a general form and without any special application. -In the first place, then, there are people who -sometimes really believe that they have actually said or -done that which it was their duty to say or do in certain -circumstances. Others, again, frequently leave their -hearers to judge whether their remarks are meant to be -sarcastic or serious. Furthermore, <i lang="la">inter pocula</i> and in -foraging for news, the meanings of words must not be -taken in altogether too literal a sense, if one does not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvii">[p. xvii]</span> -wish to make a fool of himself. Although truth may -be found in the bowl, it usually contains more alcohol -than accuracy; and the scribblers of the press very -often thoughtlessly accept appearances for realities -when they come from “well-informed circles.” Finally, -even those who wilfully mislead serve the truth in -so far as they enable the experienced to detect their -falsehood.</p> - -<p>A good deal of what I report and describe will -appear to many persons trivial and external. My view -of the matter, however, is this. The trifles with which -the prætor does not trouble himself often illustrate the -character of a man or his temper for the time being -more clearly than fine speeches or great exploits. Now -and then very unimportant occurrences and situations -have been, as it were, the spark which lit up the mind -and revealed a whole train of new and fruitful ideas -pregnant with great consequences. In this connection -I may recall the accidental, and apparently insignificant, -origin of many epoch-making inventions and discoveries, -such as the fall of an apple from a tree that -gave Newton the first impulse towards his theory of -gravitation, the greatest discovery of the eighteenth -century; the steam from the boiling kettle which raised -its lid and ultimately led to the transformation of the -world by the locomotive; the brilliant reflection of the -sun on a tin vessel which transported Jacob Boehme -into a transcendental vision; and the spot of grease -upon our table-cloth at Ferrières which formed the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xviii">[p. xviii]</span> -starting-point of one of Prince Bismarck’s most remarkable -conversations. The morning hours affect -nervous constitutions differently to the evening, and -changes of weather depress or raise the spirits of -persons subject to rheumatism. Indeed it must be -remembered that learned theories have been formed -which, expressed in a plain and direct way, amount -roughly to this—that a man is what he eats. However -odd that may sound, we really cannot say how far such -ideas are wrong. Finally, it appears to me that everything -is of interest and should receive attention which -has any relation to the prominent central figure of the -great movement which resulted in the political regeneration -of our country—to that powerful personality -who, like the angel mentioned in the Scriptures, stirred -the stagnant pool, and gave health and life after the -lethargy and decay of centuries. I followed the -Chancellor’s career with the eyes of a future generation. -At great epochs trifles appear smaller than they actually -are. In later decades and centuries the contrary is the -case. The great events of the past bulk still larger in -men’s minds, while things which were regarded as unimportant -become full of significance. It is then often -a matter for regret that it is impossible to form as clear -and lifelike a picture of a personality or an event as -one could wish for want of valuable material originally -cast aside as of no account. There was no eye to see -and no hand to collect and preserve those materials -while it was yet time. Who would not now be glad to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xix">[p. xix]</span> -have fuller details respecting Luther in the great days -and hours of his life?</p> - -<p>In a hundred years the memory of Prince Bismarck -will take a place in the minds of our people next to -that occupied by the Wittenberg doctor. The liberator -of our political life from dependence upon foreigners -will stand by the side of the reformer who freed our -consciences from the oppression of Rome—the founder -of the German State by the side of him who created -German Christianity. Our Chancellor already holds -this place in the hearts of many of his countrymen; -his portrait adorns their walls, and they inspire the -growing generation with the reverence which they -themselves feel. These will be followed by the masses, -and therefore I imagine I may safely take the risk of -being told that I have preserved, not only the pearls, -but also the shells in which they were found.</p> - -<p>Many of the Chancellor’s expressions respecting the -French may be regarded as unfair and even occasionally -inhuman. It must not be forgotten, however, that -ordinary warfare is calculated to harden the feelings, -and that Gambetta’s suicidal campaign, conducted with -all the passionate ardour of his nature, the treacherous -tactics of his franctireurs, and the bestiality of his -Turcos, was bound to raise a spirit in our camp in which -leniency and consideration could have no part. Of -course, in reproducing and in adding other and still -more bitter instances of this feeling, now that all these -things have long ago passed away, there can be no -intention to hurt any one’s feelings. They are merely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xx">[p. xx]</span> -vivid contributions to the history of the campaign, -denoting the momentary temper of the Chancellor, who -was at that time sorely tried and deeply wounded by -these and other incidents.</p> - -<p>I trust my reasons for including a number of newspaper -articles will commend themselves to the reader -I do so in the first place to show the gradual development -and change which certain political ideas underwent, -and the forms which they assumed at various -times. Furthermore the greater part of them were -directly inspired by Prince Bismarck, and some were -even dictated by him. By mentioning the latter articles -I hope to do the newspapers in question a pleasure in -so far as they will now learn that they once had the -honour of having the most eminent statesman of the -century as a contributor. All these articles furnish -material for forming an opinion upon the journalistic -activity of the Prince, which hitherto only Wagener of -the <cite lang="de">Kreuzzeitung</cite>, Zitelmann, the Prince’s amanuensis -during the years he spent as Ambassador at Frankfurt, -and Lothar Bucher were in a position to do. On the -22nd of January, 1871, the Chancellor himself remarked, -referring to the importance of the press for historians: -“One learns more from the newspapers than from -official despatches, as, of course, Governments use the -press in order frequently to say more clearly what they -really mean. One must, however, know all about the -connections of the different papers.” This knowledge -will in great part be found in the present work.</p> - -<p>The reason for reproducing certain portions of my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxi">[p. xxi]</span> -previous writings in this book is that they are essential -for the purpose of completing the character portrait -given in the diary. Without them it would be deficient -in some parts, and unintelligible in others. The reproductions -referred to are in almost every instance considerably -altered and supplemented with additional -matter, and they now occupy a more suitable position -in the work than before.</p> - -<p class="right"> -MORITZ BUSCH.<br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Leipzig</span>, <i>July 30, 1898</i>.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - - -<table summary="Contents"> -<colgroup> -<col width="90%" /> -<col width="10%" /> -</colgroup> - - <tr> - <th class="topline fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="1">I</abbr></th> - <th class="topline"><span class="fs65">PAGE</span></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">MY APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICIAL IN THE FOREIGN OFFICE, AND MY - FIRST AUDIENCE WITH BISMARCK—WORK AND OBSERVATIONS UP - TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR WITH FRANCE</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_1" title="Go to Page 1">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="2">II</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">DEPARTURE OF THE CHANCELLOR FOR THE SEAT OF WAR—I FOLLOW - HIM, AT FIRST TO SAARBRÜCKEN—JOURNEY FROM THERE TO THE - FRENCH FRONTIER—THE FOREIGN OFFICE FLYING COLUMN</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_64" title="Go to Page 64">64</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="3">III</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">FROM THE FRONTIER TO GRAVELOTTE</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_76" title="Go to Page 76">76</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="4">IV</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">COMMERCY—BAR LE DUC—CLERMONT EN ARGONNE </td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_103" title="Go to Page 103">103</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="5">V</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">WE TURN TOWARDS THE NORTH—THE CHANCELLOR OF THE CONFEDERATION - AT REZONVILLE—THE BATTLE AND BATTLEFIELD OF BEAUMONT</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_126" title="Go to Page 126">126</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="6">VI</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">SEDAN—BISMARCK AND NAPOLEON AT DONCHERY</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_141" title="Go to Page 141">141</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="7">VII</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">FROM THE MEUSE TO THE MARNE</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_163" title="Go to Page 163">163</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="8">VIII</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">BISMARCK AND FAVRE AT HAUTE-MAISON—A FORTNIGHT IN ROTHSCHILD’S - CHÂTEAU</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_191" title="Go to Page 191">191</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="9">IX</abbr><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxiv">[p. xxiv]</span></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">THE JOURNEY TO VERSAILLES—MADAME JESSE’S HOUSE, AND OUR LIFE - THERE</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_227" title="Go to Page 227">227</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="10">X</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">AUTUMN DAYS AT VERSAILLES</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_235" title="Go to Page 235">235</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="11">XI</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">THIERS AND THE FIRST NEGOTIATIONS FOR AN ARMISTICE AT VERSAILLES </td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_274" title="Go to Page 274">274</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="12">XII</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">GROWING DESIRE FOR A DECISION IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_310" title="Go to Page 310">310</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="13">XIII</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">REMOVAL OF THE ANXIETY RESPECTING THE BAVARIAN TREATY IN THE - REICHSTAG—THE BOMBARDMENT FURTHER POSTPONED</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_330" title="Go to Page 330">330</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="14">XIV</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">THE PROSPECTS OUTSIDE PARIS IMPROVE</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_373" title="Go to Page 373">373</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="15">XV</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">CHAUDORDY AND THE TRUTH—OFFICERS OF BAD FAITH—FRENCH - GARBLING—THE CROWN PRINCE DINES WITH THE CHIEF</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_392" title="Go to Page 392">392</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="16">XVI</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">FIRST WEEK OF THE BOMBARDMENT</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_427" title="Go to Page 427">427</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="17">XVII</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">LAST WEEKS BEFORE THE CAPITULATION OF PARIS</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_460" title="Go to Page 460">460</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="18">XVIII</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS RESPECTING THE CAPITULATION OF PARIS</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_492" title="Go to Page 492">492</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th class="chaphdg fs100">CHAPTER <abbr title="19">XIX</abbr></th> - <th> </th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="toccol1 subhdg fs80">FROM GAMBETTA’S RESIGNATION TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRELIMINARIES - OF PEACE</td> - <td class="toccol2"><a href="#Page_553" title="Go to Page 553">553</a></td> - </tr> - -</table> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[p. 1]</span></p> - -<p class="center noindent fs150 sp4">BISMARCK</p> - -<p class="center noindent sp2">SOME SECRET PAGES OF HIS HISTORY</p> -</div> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="1">I</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">MY APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICIAL IN THE FOREIGN OFFICE, -AND MY FIRST AUDIENCE WITH BISMARCK—WORK -AND OBSERVATIONS UP TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE -WAR WITH FRANCE</p> -</div> - -<p class="firstpara">On February 1st, 1870, while living in Leipzig and -engaged in literary work, I received—quite unexpectedly—from -<abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Metzler, Secretary in the Foreign Office of -the North German Confederation, who was at that time -occupied principally with press matters and with whom -I had been in communication since 1867, a short note -requesting me to come to Berlin in order to have a talk -with him. On my arrival I ascertained, to my great -surprise, that <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Metzler had recommended me to Herr -von Keudell, Councillor of Embassy, who was then in -charge of personal and finance matters in the Foreign -Office, for a confidential position under the Chancellor -of the Confederation, which he, Metzler himself, had -previously held, and in which my chief duty would be -to carry out the instructions of the Chancellor in press -matters. I was to be in immediate communication with -the Chancellor. My position for the time being would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[p. 2]</span> -be what was called “<span lang="de">diätarisch</span>,” that is to say without -any claim to a pension and without a title. Further -details were to be arranged with Herr von Keudell on -his return from his honeymoon. For the moment I was -only required to declare my readiness in general to -accept the offer, and later on I was to formulate my wishes -and lay them in writing before Herr von Keudell.</p> - -<p>This I did in a letter dated February 4th, in which I -emphasised as the most important condition that I should -be entirely independent of the Literary or Press Bureau, -and that if my capacity for the position should not prove -equal to the expectations formed of it I should not be -appointed an official in that department. On February -19th I heard from Metzler that my conditions had been -in the main agreed to, and that no objections had been -raised with regard to that respecting the Literary Bureau. -I was to discuss the further arrangements with Keudell -himself, and to be prepared to enter upon my duties at -once. On February 21st I had a satisfactory interview -with the latter, in the course of which we came to an -understanding as to terms. On the 23rd I was informed -by Keudell that the Chancellor had agreed to my -conditions, and that he had arranged for me to call upon -Bismarck on the following evening. Next day I took the -official oath, and on the same evening, shortly after -8 o’clock, I found myself in the presence of the Chancellor, -whom I had only seen at a distance once before, namely, -from the Press Gallery of the Reichstag. Now, two -years later, I saw him again as he sat in a military -uniform at his writing table with a bundle of documents -before him. I was quite close to him this time, and felt -as if I stood before the altar.</p> - -<p>He gave me his hand, and motioned me to take a seat -opposite him. He began by saying that although he -desired to have a talk with me, he must for the moment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[p. 3]</span> -content himself with just making my acquaintance, as he -had very little time to spare. “I have been kept in the -Reichstag to-day longer than I expected by a number of -lengthy and tiresome speeches; then I have here -(pointing to the documents before him) despatches to -read, also as a rule not very amusing; and at 9 o’clock I -must go to the palace, and that is not particularly -entertaining either. What have you been doing up to -the present?” I replied that I had edited the <cite lang="de">Grenzboten</cite>, -an organ of practically National Liberal views, which I -left, however, on one of the proprietors showing a disposition -to adopt a Progressist policy on the Schleswig-Holstein -question. The Chancellor: “Yes, I know that -paper.” I then went on to say that I had at the instance -of the Government taken a position at Hanover, where I -assisted the Civil Commissioner, Herr von Hardenberg, -in representing Prussian interests in the local press -during the year of transition. I had subsequently, on -instructions received from the Foreign Office, written a -number of articles for different political journals, amongst -others for the <cite lang="de">Preussische Jahrbuecher</cite>, to which I had -also previously contributed. Bismarck: “Then you -understand our politics and the German question in -particular. I intend to get you to write notes and -articles for the papers from such particulars and instructions -as I may give you, for of course I cannot myself -write leaders. You will also arrange for others doing so. -At first these will naturally be by way of trial. I must -have some one especially for this purpose, and not merely -occasional assistance as at present, especially as I also -receive very little useful help from the Literary Bureau. -But how long do you remain here?” and as he looked -at his watch I thought he desired to bring the conversation -to a close. I replied that I had arranged to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[p. 4]</span> -remain in Berlin. Bismarck: “Ah, very well then, I -shall have a long talk with you one of these days. In -the meantime see Herr von Keudell, and also Herr -Bucher, Councillor of Embassy, who is well acquainted -with all these matters.” I understood that I was now at -liberty to go, and was about to rise from my seat when -the Chancellor said: “Of course you know the question -which was before the House to-day?” I replied in the -negative, explaining that I had been too busy to read -the reports in the newspapers. “Well,” he said, “it -was respecting the admission of Baden into the North -German Confederation. It is a pity that people cannot -manage to wait, and that they treat everything from a -party standpoint, and as furnishing opportunities for -speech-making. Disagreeable business to have to answer -such speeches, not to say such twaddle! These eloquent -gentlemen are really like ladies with small feet. They -force them into shoes that are too tight for them, and -push them under our noses on all occasions in order that -we may admire them. It is just the same with a man -who has the misfortune to be eloquent. He speaks too -often and too long. The question of German unity is -making good progress; but it requires time—one year -perhaps, or five, or indeed possibly even ten years. I -cannot make it go any faster, nor can these gentlemen -either. But they have no patience to wait.” With these -words he rose, and again shaking hands I took leave of -him for the time.</p> - -<p>I was thus enlisted in the ranks of Bismarck’s -fellow-workers. An opportunity for the general instructions -which he proposed to give me never occurred. -I had to enter upon my work at once. Next evening I -was twice called in to him to receive instructions for -articles. Later on I sometimes saw him still more<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[p. 5]</span> -frequently, and occasionally in the forenoon also—now -and then as often as five or even eight times in one -day. At these interviews I had to take good care to -keep my ears well open, and to note everything with -the closest attention, so that two pieces of information -or two sets of instructions should not get mixed up. -However, I soon found myself equal to this unusually -trying task, as Bismarck’s opinions and instructions -were always given in a striking form, which it was easy -to remember. Besides, he was accustomed to repeat -his principal points in other words. Then, again, I -made myself all ears, so that, through practice, I -gradually succeeded in retaining long sentences, and -even whole speeches, practically without omissions, -until I had an opportunity of committing them to -paper. Bismarck used also to send me, by one of the -messengers, documents and newspapers marked with -the letter V and a cross, signs which indicated “Press -Instructions.” When I found such papers on my desk -I looked them through, and subsequently obtained the -Chancellor’s directions with regard to them. Furthermore, -when I had anything of importance to ask or to -submit for his approval, I was allowed to call upon him -without previous invitation. I thus practically occupied -the position of a “<span lang="de">Vortragender Rath</span>” (<i>i.e.</i>, an official -having direct access to the Chancellor), excepting only -that I had neither the title nor the sense of infallibility -common to all such Councillors.</p> - -<p>The newspapers to which the articles thus prepared -were supplied were the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine -Zeitung</cite>, then edited by Brass, which was the semi-official -organ, properly speaking; the <cite lang="de">Spenersche -Zeitung</cite>, and the <cite lang="de">Neue Preussische Zeitung</cite>. I also -frequently sent letters to the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>, expressing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[p. 6]</span> -the Chancellor’s views. During the first -months of my appointment Metzler, who had previously -contributed to that paper, served as the medium for communicating -these articles. Subsequently they were -sent direct to the editor, and were always accepted -without alteration. In addition to this work I saw one -of the writers from the Literary Bureau every forenoon, -and gave him material which was sent to the <cite lang="de">Magdeburger -Zeitung</cite> and some of the smaller newspapers; -while other members of his department furnished -portions of it to certain Silesian, East Prussian, and -South German organs. I had similar weekly interviews -with other, and somewhat more independent, writers. -Amongst these I may mention <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Bock, who supplied -articles to the <cite lang="de">Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung</cite>, and a -number of papers in Hanover; Professor Constantine -Roeszler, formerly Lecturer at Jena, who subsequently -assisted Richthofen at Hamburg and afterwards edited -the <cite lang="de">Staatsanzeiger</cite>; and finally Herr Heide, who had -previously been a missionary in Australia and was at -that time working for the <cite>North German Correspondence</cite>, -which had been founded with a view to -influencing the English press.</p> - -<p>In addition to this my duties also included the -reading of masses of German, Austrian and French -newspapers, which were laid upon my table three -times daily, and the management and purchase of -books for the Ministerial Library. It will therefore be -easily understood that while the Chancellor remained -in Berlin I had more than enough to attend to. I -was engaged not only on week-days, but also on -Sundays, from 9 in the morning until 3 in the -afternoon, and again from 5 till 10 and sometimes 11 -o’clock at night. Indeed, it sometimes occurred that a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[p. 7]</span> -messenger from the Chancellor came at midnight to -call me away from a party of friends or out of my bed -in order to receive pressing instructions.</p> - -<p>I reproduce here in the form in which they appear -in my diary the particulars of a number of more or less -characteristic statements and instructions which I received -from the Chancellor at that period. They show that the -statesman whom I had the honour to serve thoroughly -understood the business of journalism, and they further -throw a welcome light upon many of the political events -of that time.</p> - -<p>Some days after the debate in the Reichstag respecting -the entrance of Baden into the North German Confederation, -to which reference has already been made, -and while the matter was still occupying both the -attention of the press and of the Chancellor, I find the -following entry among my notes:—</p> - -<p><i>February 27th, evening.</i>—Called to see the Minister. -I am to direct special attention to the nonsense written -by the National Liberal Press on the last sitting of -the Reichstag. The Chancellor said:—“The National -Liberals are not a united party. They are merely two -fractions. Amongst their leaders Bennigsen and Forckenbeck -are sensible men, and there are also a couple of -others. Miguel is inclined to be theatrical. Loewe, -with his deep chest notes, does everything for effect. -He has not made a single practical remark. Lasker is -effective in destructive criticism, but is no politician. -It sounded very odd to hear him declare that they were -now too much occupied with Rome in Paris and Vienna -to interfere with us in connection with the Baden affair. -If it were possible to get those of really Progressist -views to act independently, it would make the situation -much clearer. Friedenthal’s speech was excellent. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[p. 8]</span> -must ask you also to emphasise the following points:—1. -The unfairness of the <cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite> in repeating -misunderstandings which I explained and disposed of in -my speech. 2. The make-believe support given to my -policy by men who were elected for the express purpose -of rendering me real assistance. 3. That such politicians -either cannot see or intentionally overlook my -principal motive, viz., that to admit Baden into the -Confederation would bring pressure to bear upon Bavaria, -and that it is therefore a hazardous step. Attention -should be paid to the situation in France, so that nothing -should be done which might endanger the Constitutional -evolution of that country, an evolution hitherto promoted -in every way from Berlin, as it signifies peace for -us. The French Arcadians” (the party that supported -Napoleon through thick and thin) “are watching the -course of events in Germany, and waiting their opportunity. -Napoleon is now well disposed to us, but he is -very changeable. We could now fight France and beat -her too, but that war would give rise to five or six others; -and while we can gain our ends by peaceful means, it -would be foolish, if not criminal, to take such a course. -Events in France may take a warlike or revolutionary -turn, which would render the present brittle metal there -more malleable. There was an important point in my -speech, which, however, these good people failed to -recognise. That was the intimation that in certain -circumstances we should pay no regard either to the -views of Austria respecting South Germany as a whole, -nor to those of France, who objected to the admission -of any single South German State into the North German -Confederation. That was a feeler. Further measures -can only be considered when I know how that hint has -been received in Vienna and Paris.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[p. 9]</span></p> - -<p><i>March 1st.</i>—Count Bismarck wishes me to get the -following inserted in the South German newspapers:—“The -speech of von Freydorf, the Grand Ducal Minister, -in the Baden Diet on the Jurisdiction Treaty with the -North German Confederation, has been inspired by an -absolutely correct view of the situation. Particular -attention should be paid to that portion in which the -Foreign Minister of the Grand Duchy declared the -policy of Baden to be in perfect accord with that of -the Chancellor of the North German Confederation, and -also to the manner in which he defined the position of -the South German States towards the Treaty of Prague. -Through the dissolution of the old Germanic Confederacy, -those States have, as a matter of fact, become -sovereign States. That treaty <em>gives them liberty</em> (to -me: Underline those words!) to form a new union -amongst themselves, a South German Confederation, by -means of which they may take measures for bringing -about a national union with the united North. That -treaty involves no prescription, engagement or compulsion -whatever to adopt such a course. Any insinuation -of that kind with respect to States whose sovereignty -has been emphatically recognised would be something -absolutely unheard of. In the Swiss war of the Sonderbund, -and also in the late American civil war, States -were obliged against their own will to remain within a -union which they had previously joined, but no one ever -saw a sovereign State or Prince required to enter into -confederation against their own judgment. The South -German States, including half of Hesse, have unquestionably -the right—acting either in concert or singly—to -endeavour, in co-operation with the North, to advance -the cause of national unity. The question is whether -the present is a good time to choose. The Chancellor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[p. 10]</span> -of the North German Confederation answers this question -in the negative. But it is only possible by the most -wilful garbling of his expressions to maintain that his -final aim is not the union of Germany. Partition of -German national territory! Calumny! Not a single -word of the Chancellor’s justifies that conclusion. As -Herr Lasker has not spoken at the instance of the -Government of Baden, although his speech would almost -convey the impression that he was a Minister of that -State, it is difficult to understand where he got that -idea. Perhaps it was merely the conceit of the honourable -member that led him to make such a statement.”</p> - -<p><i>March 3rd.</i>—The Minister wishes the <cite lang="de">Kölnische -Zeitung</cite> first, and afterwards the South German newspapers, -to advocate the organisation into one great party -of all men of national views in the South German States, -so as to get rid of the particularism which had hitherto -divided them. “The matter lies much more in their -hands,” he said, “than in those of the North German -National Liberals. The North German Governments will -do all that is possible in a reasonable way in support of -the efforts of South Germany. But the South Germans -who wish to unite with us must act together and not -singly. I want you to reiterate this point again and -again. The article must then be printed in the -<cite lang="de">Spenersche Zeitung</cite> and in other newspapers to which -we have access, and it should be accompanied by -expressions of deep regret at the particularism which -prevents the union of the various Southern parties that -gravitate towards North Germany. A union of the four -Southern States is an impossibility, but there is nothing -to hinder the formation of a Southern League composed -of men of national sentiments. The National party in -Baden, the German party in Würtemberg, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[p. 11]</span> -Bavarian Progressist party are merely different names -for the same thing. These groups have to deal with -different Governments, and some persons maintain that -they must consequently adopt different tactics. Their -aims are nevertheless identical in all important points. -With the best will in the world those three parties, -while acting singly, produce but a slight impression. -If they desire to go ahead and become an important -factor in public affairs, they must combine to form a -great and homogeneous South German National party -which must be reckoned with on both sides of the -Main.”</p> - -<p>Read over to the Minister, at his request, an -article which he ordered yesterday and for which -he gave me the leading ideas. It was to be dated -from Paris, and published in the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>. -He said:—“Yes, you have correctly expressed my -meaning. The composition is good both as regards its -reasoning and the facts which it contains. But no -Frenchman thinks in such logical and well-ordered -fashion, yet the letter is understood to be written by a -Frenchman. It must contain more gossip, and you -must pass more lightly from point to point. In doing -so you must adopt an altogether French standpoint. A -Liberal Parisian writes the letter and gives his opinion -as to the position of his party towards the German -question, expressing himself in the manner usual in -statements of that kind.” (Finally Count Bismarck -dictated the greater part of the article, which was -forwarded by Metzler in its altered form to the Rhenish -newspaper.)</p> - -<p>In connection with this task the Minister said to me -the day before:—“I look at the matter in this way. A -correspondent in Paris must give his opinion of my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[p. 12]</span> -quarrel with Lasker and the others over the Baden -question, and bring forward arguments which I did not -think it desirable to use at that time. He must say -that no one could deem it advisable in the present state -of affairs in Bavaria, when the King seems to be so well -disposed, to do anything calculated on the one hand to -irritate him, and on the other to disturb the Constitutional -movement in France—which movement tended -to preserve peace while it would itself be promoted by -the maintenance of peace. Those who desire to advance -the cause of liberty do not wish to go to war with us, -yet they could not swim against the stream if we took -any action in South Germany which public opinion -would regard as detrimental to the interests and prestige -of France. Moreover, for the present the course of the -Vatican Council should not be interfered with, as the -result for Germany might possibly be a diversion. We -must wait for these things,” he added. “I cannot -explain that to them. If they were politicians they -would see it for themselves. There are reasons for forbearance -which every one should be able to recognise; -but Members of Parliament who cross-question the -Government do not usually regard that as their duty.”</p> - -<p>The second portion of the article which the Minister -dictated runs as follows:—“Whoever has had an opportunity -of observing here in Paris how difficult the birth -of the present Constitutional movement has been, what -obstacles this latest development of French political life -has to overcome if it is to strike deep roots, and how -powerful are the influences of which the guiding spirit -only awaits some pretext for smothering the infant in -its cradle, will understand with what anxiety we watch -the horizon abroad and what a profoundly depressing -effect every little cloud there produces upon our hopes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[p. 13]</span> -of a secure and peaceful development of the new <i lang="fr">régime</i>. -It is the ardent wish of every sincere adherent of the -Constitutional cause in France that there should now be -no diversion abroad, no change on the horizon of foreign -politics, which might serve if not as a real motive at -least as a pretext for crying down the youthful Constitutionalism -of France, while at the same time directing -public attention to foreign relations. We believe that -the Emperor is in earnest, but his immediate <i lang="fr">entourage</i>, -and the creatures whom he has to employ, are watching -anxiously for some event which shall enable them to -compel the Sovereign to abandon a course which they -resent. These people are very numerous, and have -during the eighteen years of the Emperor’s reign grown -more powerful than is perhaps believed outside France. -Whoever has any regard for the Constitutional development -of the country can only hope that no alteration, -however slight, shall occur in the foreign relations of -France to serve as a motive or pretext for that reaction -which every opponent of the Constitution is striving to -bring about.”</p> - -<p>Between the directions for these articles, which I -here bring together as they relate to the same subject, I -received others, some of which I may also reproduce.</p> - -<p><i>March 4th.</i>—The <cite lang="de">Boersen Zeitung</cite> contained an -article in which it was alleged that in Germany only -nobles were considered competent to become Ministers. -This the Count sent down to me to be refuted in a short -article, expressing surprise at such a statement. “An -absurd electioneering move!” the Chancellor said. -“Whoever wishes to persuade the world that in Prussia -the position of Minister is only open to the aristocracy, -and that capable commoners have absolutely no chance -of attaining to it, must have no memory and no eyes.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[p. 14]</span> -Say that under Count Bismarck no less than three -commoners have, on his recommendation, been appointed -Ministers within a short period, namely Delbrück, -Leonhard and Camphausen. Lasker, it is true, has not -yet been appointed.”</p> - -<p>I wrote this short article immediately; but the -Chancellor was not pleased with it. “I told you expressly,” -he said, “to mention the names of Delbrück, -Leonhard and Camphausen, and that their appointments -were due to my personal influence. Go straight to the -point, and don’t wander round about it in that way! -That is no use! A pointless article! They are just -the cleverest of the present Ministers. The attack on -Lasker is also out of place. We must not provoke -people unnecessarily. They are right when they complain -of bullying.” The reference to Lasker consisted merely -of his own words as given above.</p> - -<p><i>March 5th.</i>—The <cite lang="de">Vossische Zeitung</cite> contained a -bitter attack, which culminated in the following remark: -“Exceptional circumstances—and such must be acknowledged -to exist when working men are treated to -breech-loaders, and Ministers are hanged on street -lamps—cannot be taken as a rule for the regular -conduct of affairs.” The Count received this article -from the Literary Bureau of the Ministry of State -(where extracts from the newspapers were made for -him), although it might well have been withheld, as not -much importance attaches to the scoldings of “<span lang="de">Tante -Voss</span>.” The Count sent for me, read over the passage -in question, and observed: “They speak of times when -Ministers were hanged on street lamps. Unworthy -language! Reply that such a thing never occurred in -Prussia, and that there is no prospect of its occurring. -In the meantime it shows towards what condition of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[p. 15]</span> -affairs the efforts of that newspaper are tending, which -(under the auspices of Jacoby and Company) supplies -the Progressist middle classes of Berlin with their -politics.”</p> - -<p>Called in again later to the Count. I am to go to -Geheimrath Hahn and call his attention to the question -of capital punishment, which in view of the approaching -elections should be dealt with in the <cite lang="de">Provinzial-Correspondenz</cite> -in accordance with the policy of the -Government, who desire its retention. The Minister -said: “I am firmly convinced that the majority of the -population is opposed to its abolition. Were it otherwise -it would of course be possible to do away with it. -It is a mere theory—the sentimentality of lawyers in -the Reichstag—a party doctrine which has no connection -with the life of the people, although its advocates are -constantly referring to the people. Tell him that, but -be cautious in dealing with him. He is somewhat -conceited—bureaucratic. Do it in a diplomatic way. -You must let him think that those are his own ideas. -Otherwise we shall not get anything useful out of him. -Let me know afterwards what he says.”</p> - -<p><i>March 6th.</i>—Have seen Hahn. He is of opinion -that it is yet too early to deal with this matter. It -will probably end in a compromise, capital punishment -being only retained for murder. The attitude of the -Liberals in the elections can only be influenced after the -decision in the Reichstag. In the meantime he has -instructed the Literary Bureau to refute the article in -the <cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite>, and to show how sterile the -present Parliament would be if it allowed the long -wished for Criminal Code to be wrecked upon this -question of capital punishment. Report this to the -Minister. He is of opinion that Hahn is mistaken.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[p. 16]</span> -“It is necessary to act in a diplomatic way in this -case,” he observed. “One must present an appearance -of determination up to the last moment; and if one -wants to secure a suitable compromise, show no disposition -to give way; besides, Hahn must have no other -policy than mine. I shall speak to Eulenburg, and get -him to set Hahn straight. This must be put down at -once. We must think in good time about the -elections.”</p> - -<p><i>March 7th.</i>—Sent Brass (<cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine -Zeitung</cite>) an article written by Bucher under instructions -from the Minister, showing that the majority in -the Reichstag does not represent public opinion nor the -will of the people, but only the opinions and desires of -the Parliamentary party.</p> - -<p>Called to the Count in the evening, when he said: -“I want you to secure the insertion in the press of an -article somewhat to the following effect: For some -time past vague rumours of war have been current -throughout the world for which no sufficient ground -exists in fact, or can be even suggested. The explanation -is probably to be sought in Stock Exchange -speculation for a fall which has been started in Paris. -Confidential whispers are going about with regard to -the presence of Archduke Albrecht in the French capital -which are calculated to cause uneasiness; and then, -naturally enough, these rumours are shouted aloud and -multiplied by the windbags of the Guelph press.”</p> - -<p><i>March 11th.</i>—The Count wants an article in the -<cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite> to be answered in this sense: “The -Liberals in Parliament always identify themselves with -the people. They maintain, like Louis <abbr title="14">XIV.</abbr> with his -<i lang="fr">L’état c’est moi</i>, that ‘We are the People.’ There could -hardly be a more absurd piece of boasting and exaggeration.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[p. 17]</span> -As if the other representatives, the Conservatives -in the country, and the great numbers who belong to no -party, were not also part of the nation, and had no opinions -and interests to which regard should be paid!”</p> - -<p><i>Evening.</i>—The Minister, referring to a statement in -the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung</cite>, remarked: -“There is much ado about the decided attitude taken -up by Beust against the Curia. According to the report -published by Brass he has expressed himself very -emphatically respecting its latest action, in a note which -the Ambassador read to the Secretary of State. That -must be refuted, weakened. Do it in a letter from -Rome to the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>. Say: ‘We do not -know if the analysis of the despatch in question (which -has made the round of the papers, and which was first -published by <cite>The Times</cite>) is correct,<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> but we have reason -to doubt it.’ Trautmansdorf (the Austrian Ambassador -to the Holy See) has read no note and has received no -instructions to make any positive declaration, but is on -the contrary acting in accordance with his own convictions—and -it is known that he is very clerical and not -at all disposed to radical measures. He has communicated -to Cardinal Antonelli such parts of the information that -reached him from Vienna as he thought proper, and he -certainly made that communication in as considerate a -form as possible. It cannot therefore have been very -emphatic.”</p> - -<p><i>Later.</i>—Attention is to be directed, at first in a paper -which has no connection with the Government, to the -prolonged sojourn of Archduke Albrecht in Paris as a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[p. 18]</span> -suspicious symptom. In connection with it rumours -have been circulated in London of an understanding -between France and Austria. Our papers should afterwards -reproduce these hints.</p> - -<p><i>March 12th.</i>—In the afternoon Bucher gave me the -chief’s instructions to order the Spanish newspaper, -<cite lang="es">Imparcial</cite>. (This is of some importance, as it doubtless -indicates that even then we had a hand in the question -of electing the new King. On several occasions subsequently -I secured the insertion in non-official German -papers of translations which Bucher brought me of -articles in that newspaper against the candidature of -Montpensier.)</p> - -<p><i>March 13th.</i>—The Chancellor wishes to have it said -in one of the “remote” journals (that is, not notoriously -connected with the Government) that the Pope has paid -no regard to the representations of France and Austria -respecting the principal points which should be decided -by the Council. He would not have done so even if -those representations had been expressed in a more -emphatic form than they actually were. Neither Banneville -nor Trautmansdorf was inclined to heartily defend -the cause of the State against the Ultramontanes. This -disposes of the news of the <cite lang="fr">Mémorial Diplomatique</cite> to -the effect that at the suggestion of Count Daru the -Curia has already given an affirmative answer. That -report is absolutely false, as is nearly all the news -published by the paper in question. It is much the -same with Count Beust’s note to the Papal Government. -(“Quote the word ‘note,’” added the Minister.) It was -only a despatch, and, doubtless, a very tame one.</p> - -<p><i>March 16th, evening.</i>—Called up to the Minister, -who lay on the sofa in his study. “Here,” he said -(pointing to a newspaper). “They complain of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[p. 19]</span> -accumulation of labour imposed upon Parliament. -Already eight months’ hard work! That must be -answered. It is true that members of Parliament -have a great deal to do, but Ministers are still worse -off. In addition to their work in the two Diets the -latter have an immense amount of business to transact -for the King and the country both while Parliament is -sitting and during the recess. Moreover, members have -the remedy in their own hands. If those who do not -belong to the Upper Chamber will abstain from standing -for election both to the Prussian and the Federal Diet -they will lighten their task sufficiently. They are not -obliged to sit in both Houses.”</p> - -<p><i>March 21st.</i>—I am to call attention in the semi-official -organs to the fact that the Reichstag is discussing -the Criminal Code far too minutely and slowly. “The -speakers,” observed the Count, “show too great a desire -for mere talk, and are too fond of details and hair-splitting. -If this continues the Bills will not be -disposed of in the present Session, especially as the -Budget has still to be discussed. The President might -well exercise stricter control. Another unsatisfactory -feature is that so many members absent themselves -from the sittings. Our newspapers ought to publish -regularly lists of such absentees. Please see that is -done.”</p> - -<p>Called up again later and commissioned to explain -in the press the attitude of Prussia towards those -Prelates who oppose the Curia in Rome. The Chancellor -said: “The newspapers express a desire that the -Government should support the German Bishops on the -Council. You should ask if those writers have formed -a clear idea as to how we should set about that task. -Should Prussia perhaps send a Note to the Council, or<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[p. 20]</span> -to Antonelli, the Papal Minister, who does not belong to -that body? or is she to secure representation in that -assembly of Prelates, and protest (of course in vain) -against what she objects to? Prussia will not desert -those Bishops who do not submit themselves to the -yoke, but it is for the Prelates in the first place to -maintain a determined attitude. We cannot take preventive -measures, as they would be of no value, but it -is open to us to adopt a repressive policy in case a -decision is come to in opposition to our wishes. If, -after that decision has been arrived at, it should prove -to be incompatible with the mission and interests of the -State, then existing legislation, if found inadequate, can -be easily supplemented and altered. The demand that -the Prussian Government should support the more -moderate Bishops is a mere empty phrase so long as no -practical means of giving effect to it can be discovered. -Moreover, the course which I now indicate will in any -case be ultimately successful, although success may not -at once be completely achieved.”</p> - -<p><i>March 25th.</i>—The Chief wishes Klaczko’s appointment -in Vienna to be discussed. He said to me: -“Beust intends in that way to revive the Polish question. -Point to the journalistic activity of that indefatigable -agitator, and to his bitter hatred both of ourselves and -Russia. Quote Rechenberg’s confidential despatch of -the 2nd of March from Warsaw, where he says that the -Polish secret political societies which are engaged at -Lemberg in preparing for a revolution, with the object -of restoring Polish independence, have sent a deputation -to Klaczko congratulating him on his appointment to a -position where he is in direct communication with the -Chancellor of the Empire. Send the article first to the -<cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>, and afterwards arrange for similar<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[p. 21]</span> -articles in the provincial newspapers. We must finally -see that this reaches Reuss (the Ambassador in St. -Petersburg), in order that he may get it reproduced in -the Russian press. It can also appear in the <cite lang="de">Kreuzzeitung</cite>, -and it must be brought up again time after -time in another form.”</p> - -<p><i>Afternoon.</i>—Geheimrath Abeken desires me, on the -instructions of the Minister, to take note of the following -document, which is apparently based on a despatch: -“It is becoming more and more difficult to understand -the attitude of the Austrian Government towards the -Council. All the organs of public opinion are on the -side of the Austrian Bishops, who are making such a -dignified and decisive stand in Rome. The reports -which the Government thought well to allow the press -to publish respecting the steps which they have taken -in Rome were in harmony with this attitude. The -news from Rome, however, speaks only of the tameness -and indecision with which the Government’s policy is -being carried into execution. The most contradictory -accounts are now coming in. It is said that the Austrian -Ambassador has supported the action of the French -Ambassador, which is known not to have been very -effective. Expressions have been attributed to Count -Beust showing that, in his opinion, the only effectual -course would be for all the Powers to take common or -collective action. On the other hand, it is asserted that -he gave a negative answer, reciting different objections, -to the proposal of another Catholic State (Bavaria) to -join it in a decisive declaration in Rome. In presence -of this indecision on the part of the Catholic Powers the -Bishops will doubtless be obliged to follow their own -consciences and decide for themselves what their course -of action is to be. We are convinced however that if<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[p. 22]</span> -the Prelates themselves resolved to make a determined -stand on behalf of their consciences the situation would -immediately undergo a change in their favour, and that -ultimately no Government would desert its own Bishops -even if they were in a minority.</p> - -<p>“Bismarck has already explained to the Prussian -Ambassador in Paris that he is prepared to support -every initiative taken on the Catholic side in the matter -of the Council. He at the same time discussed the -subject with Benedetti, expressing himself in a similar -sense, but in the meantime making no positive proposal. -On the other hand, he asked incidentally whether it -might not be desirable to consider in a general conference -the attitude to be adopted by the various -Governments towards the Council. Benedetti replied -that such a course would only hasten the Council’s -decision. Bismarck urged that a conference might be -useful, even were it no longer possible to influence the -Council, and were the question to be considered merely -how far the injurious effects of its decisions on the peace -of Church and State could be minimised.</p> - -<p>“Benedetti sent a report of this informal conversation -to Paris, representing it as a proposal to hold a -conference. Daru replied in a despatch which pointed -out the difficulty of carrying that idea into execution. -Who should take part in the conference? Russia maintained -such an unfriendly attitude towards the Catholic -Church, and Italy was so hostile to the Curia that they -could hardly join in any common action. Spain wished -to confine herself to the repression of any eventual -breach of the laws of the country, and England ignored -the official declarations of the Roman Church. Many -Powers had Concordats, while others occupied a more -independent position towards the Curia, therefore, in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[p. 23]</span> -that respect also, an understanding would be difficult. -Finally, Daru feared that Rome, on hearing of an -intended conference, would reply with a <i lang="fr">fait accompli</i>. -For these reasons he declined the proposal. He would, -however, like to afford the other Powers an opportunity -of supporting the measures taken by France on her own -initiative. In case he received a negative answer to his -demand that France should be represented on the -Council he would officially communicate to the other -Governments his declaration to the Secretary of State, -Cardinal Antonelli, that the rights and interests of the -State would be defended against any encroachment on -the part of the Spiritual Power, and urge them to -support his action in Rome. Bismarck thanked Daru -for this communication, and said that the Government -at Berlin (when it had satisfied itself that such -a course on the part of France was calculated to promote -the interests of Prussian Catholics) would -endeavour to strengthen the impression made thereby; -and that further communications were awaited with -interest.</p> - -<p>“The French Government looks forward with anxiety -to the consequences of the Council, but hesitates to take -any serious and decisive measures, and is not disposed -to enter upon any common action with the other -Powers. Bray, at Munich, seemed less disinclined to -such a course. He thought a declaration might possibly -be made that the Government considered the œcumenical -and authoritative character of the Council to be affected -by the promulgation of the dogma of infallibility notwithstanding -the opposition of a minority of the Bishops, -as also the legal position assured to the Prelates under -the Concordats, and that the dogma in question was to -be regarded as null and void. Bray was anxious that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[p. 24]</span> -Austria should join in this declaration. Beust, however, -would not consent, as he believed that such a -declaration would merely induce the Council to come to -an unanimous decision which would then be binding -upon the Governments. An unequivocal attitude of -any kind is not to be expected from Vienna.</p> - -<p>“If the Catholic Governments will not take the -initiative the question remains what course the Bishops -themselves will adopt. We hold to the principle of not -acting directly and in our own name with the Roman -See, while at the same time powerfully and steadfastly -supporting every effort made by the Catholics themselves, -and particularly by the German Bishops to -prevent illegal changes being made in the constitution of -the Catholic Church, and to preserve both Church and -State from a disturbance of the peace. We do not find -ourselves called upon to take up a prominent attitude -towards the Council; but our readiness to support -energetically every well-meant effort of the Catholic -Powers, whose duty it is to intervene in the first -place, or of the Bishops within the Council, remains -unaltered.”</p> - -<p><i>Evening.</i>—I am to refer to England and the way in -which the press is treated there. “The Liberals always -appeal to English example when they want to secure -some fresh liberty for the press. Such appeals, it is -well known, rest largely upon mistaken notions. It -would be desirable to examine more closely the Bill -which has just been passed for the preservation of order -in Ireland. What would public opinion in Germany, -and particularly what would the people of Berlin say, if -our Government could proceed against any of our democratic -journals, even against the most violent, according -to the following provisions, and that too without even<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[p. 25]</span> -a state of minor siege? Then quote the provisions, and -add that the Bill was carried by a large majority.”<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> - -<p><i>March 28th.</i>—The Chancellor desires that the -question of the Council should be again dealt with -somewhat to the following effect: “The press has -repeatedly expressed a desire to know what position -will be taken by Prussia towards the policy of the -majority of the Council, and several proposals have been -made in this connection. In our opinion the answer to -that question is to be found in the character of Prussia -as a Protestant Power. In that capacity Prussia must -leave the initiative in this matter to the Catholic -Governments who are more directly threatened. If -these do not take action the question remains what -course the Bishops who form the minority in the -Council will adopt, a question which will be answered -by the immediate future. If the Catholic Governments -decide to take steps against the majority of the Council, -Prussia ought to join in that action if she considers it to -be in the interests of her Catholic subjects. But it is -less the duty of Prussia than of any other State to rush -into the breach.... If the Bishops defend the -constitution of their Church, their episcopal rights, and -peace between Church and State in a fearless and -determined protest against the encroachments of the -Ultramontane party in the Council, it may then be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[p. 26]</span> -confidently hoped that the Prussian Government will -extend to them a powerful support.”</p> - -<p>Some of the last sentences repeated almost literally -the conclusion of the document brought to me by -Abeken.</p> - -<p><i>March 30th.</i>—The Count sent down a report from -Rome for use in the press. This report says: “The -tourists who visited St. Peter’s on the 22nd instant -were several times disturbed by a dull noise which rolled -through the aisles like a storm, proceeding from the direction -of the Council Chamber. Those who remained a little -longer saw individual Bishops, with anxious looks, -hurriedly leave the church. There had been a terrible -scene amongst the reverend fathers. The theme <i lang="la">de -erroribus</i>, which was laid before the Council about three -weeks ago and then returned to the Commission, was -again being discussed in an amended form. This -discussion had now lasted five or six (eight) days. -Strossmayer criticised one of the paragraphs of the -Proemium which characterised Protestantism as the -source of all the evils which now infect the world in the -forms of pantheism, materialism, and atheism. He -declared that this Proemium contained historical untruths, -as the errors of our time were much older than -Protestantism. The Humanist movement, which had -been imprudently protected by the highest authority -(Pope Leo <abbr title="10">X.</abbr>) was in part responsible for them. The -Proemium lacked the charity due to Protestants. (First -uproar.) It was, on the contrary, amongst Protestants -that Christianity had found its most powerful defenders, -such as Leibnitz and Guizot, whose meditations he -should wish to see in the hands of every Christian. -(Renewed and increased uproar, while closed fists are -shown at the speaker, and cries are heard of ‘<i lang="la">Hæreticus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[p. 27]</span> -es! Taceas! Descendas! Omnes te condemnamus!</i>’ -and now and then ‘<i lang="la">Ego eum non condemno!</i>’) This -storm also subsided, and Strossmayer was able to proceed -to another point, namely, the question to which the -Bishops referred in their protest, that is to say, that a -unanimous vote is indispensable for decisions on dogma. -Strossmayer’s remarks on this theme caused the indignation -of the majority to boil over. Cardinal Capalti -interrupted him. The assembly raged like a hurricane. -After a wordy war of a quarter of an hour’s duration -between the speaker and the Legates, Strossmayer -retired, three times repeating the words: ‘<i lang="la">Protestor -non est concilium.</i>’ It is worthy of note that a Congregation -has been held to-day at which the Bishop of -Halifax and others are understood to have expressed -views similar to those of Strossmayer and that no -attempt was made to interrupt them. It would therefore -appear as if the storm raised against the Bishop of -Bosnia were a party manœuvre with the object of -ruining the most important of the Princes of the -Church.”</p> - -<p><i>March 31st.</i>—Commissioned by the Chief to tell -Zitelmann (an official of the Ministry of State in charge -of press matters) that the newspaper extracts which his -office prepares for submission to the King (through the -Minister) should be better sifted and arranged. Those -that are suitable for the King are to be gummed on to -separate sheets and detached from those that are not -suitable for him. Particularistic lies and stupidities, -such as those from Kiel of the 25th and Cassel of the -28th, belong to the latter category and must not be laid -before him. If he sees that kind of thing printed in -black on white he is apt to believe it. He does not -know the character of those papers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[p. 28]</span></p> - -<p>I am to secure the insertion in the press of the -following particulars, which have reference to a paragraph -in a newspaper which the Minister did not name -to me. It is a well-known fact that Howard, the English -representative at Munich, although he is married to a -Prussian lady (Schulenberg), exercises, in opposition to -the views of his own Government, a decidedly anti-Prussian -influence, not so much in a pro-Austrian as in -a Guelph sense. He was Minister at Hanover up to -the events of 1866.</p> - -<p><i>April 1st.</i>—The Minister’s birthday. When I was -called to him in the evening his room was perfumed -with flowers presented to him. He lay on the sofa, -booted and spurred, smoking a cigar, and reading -newspaper extracts. After receiving my instructions, -I offered my congratulations, for which he thanked me, -reaching me his hand. “I hope,” he said, “we shall -remain together for a very long time.” I replied that -I hoped so too, that I could find no words to say how -happy I felt to be near him, and to be able to work for -him. “Well,” he answered, smiling, “it is not always -so pleasant, but you must not notice every little -thing.”</p> - -<p>My instructions referred to Lasker and Hoverbeck. -They were as follows:—“Just take Lippe and Lasker as -your subject for once. Lasker has, it is true, been -taken to task for one of his latest utterances by -Bennigsen, the chief of his fraction, but it can do no -harm to deal with the affair once more in the press—and -repeatedly. He, like Lippe, wants the Constitution -to be placed above our national requirements. -<i lang="fr">Les extrêmes se touchent.</i> Lippe is the representative -of the Particularistic Junkers with the tendency to -absolutism, Lasker that of the Parliamentary Junkers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[p. 29]</span> -with Particularistic leanings. Vincke, who was just -such another, succeeded, with his eternal dogmatism, in -ruining and nearly destroying a great party in a few -months, notwithstanding favourable circumstances. -Please send the article to the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine -Zeitung</cite> for publication, and let it be afterwards reproduced -in another form by the Literary Bureau.” (...)</p> - -<p><i>April 4th.</i>—It was well that I carried out the -Minister’s orders at once. On being called to him this -morning he received me with the words: “I asked you -recently to write an article on the subject of Lippe and -Lasker. Have you done so?” I replied “Yes, Excellency, -and it has already appeared. I did not submit -it to you as I know that you see the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche</cite> -daily.” He then said, “I have had no time as yet, I -will look it up immediately.”</p> - -<p>In a quarter of an hour I was again sent for, and -on appearing before him the Minister said: “I have -now read the article—it was amongst the extracts. It -is excellent, exactly what I wished. Let it now be -circulated and reproduced in the provincial journals. -In doing so it may be further remarked that if Count -Bismarck were to charge Lasker and his fraction with -Particularism—I do not mean all the National Liberals, -but principally the Prussians, the Lasker group—the -accusation would be well founded. Lippe has also laid -down the principle that the Prussian Diet is independent -of the Federal Diet.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then continued: “Here is the <cite lang="de">Kölnische -Zeitung</cite> talking of excitability. It alleges that -I have manifested an excitability which recalls the -period of ‘conflict.’ That is not true. I have merely -repelled passionate attacks in the same tone in which -they were delivered, according to the usual practice in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[p. 30]</span> -Parliament. It was not Bismarck but Lasker and -Hoverbeck who took the initiative. They began again -with offensive personal attacks, and I begged of them in -a friendly way not to return to that style. Ask -whether the writer had not read the report of the -sitting, as it showed that it was not Count Bismarck who -picked this quarrel. Apart from its pleadings on behalf -of the claims of Denmark, the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite> was -a sensible newspaper. What had Count Bismarck done -to it that it should allow its correspondents to send -such a garbled account of the facts? Moreover, Bennigsen -had reprimanded Lasker. They now themselves -recognised that the tone they adopted was wrong, as -Lasker came to me on Saturday to excuse himself.”</p> - -<p><i>April 6th.</i>—Under instructions from the Minister I -dictated the following paragraph to Doerr for circulation -through the Literary Bureau: “The position of the -Bishops who form the opposition in the Council does -not appear to be satisfactory, if one may judge from -the attitude of the Catholic Governments and particularly -of the Vienna Cabinet. Probably Count Beust -has not yet made up his mind in this matter. He -seems to have sent somewhat energetic remonstrances -to the Ambassador in Rome, but it is obvious that -Count Trautmansdorf has delivered them in a very -diluted form. According to certain newspapers the -Austrian Chancellor has also endeavoured to bring about -a common action of the Powers, while others report -an incident which renders it doubtful whether any such -attempt has been made. The French also maintain an -attitude of exceptional prudence and reserve, and the -Bishops would thus appear to stand well nigh alone.... -The initiative must come from the Bishops themselves.”</p> - -<p>Between the 6th and the 10th of April I wrote an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[p. 31]</span> -article on the question of North Schleswig from the -Minister’s instructions. This attracted great attention -on its publication in the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine -Zeitung</cite>, principally on the ground that there seemed to -be no occasion for its appearance at a time when the -political horizon was absolutely clear. (It may possibly -have arisen through a Russian reminder and approval of -the pretended claims of Denmark.) The article was to -the following effect: “It is a wilful falsehood to -maintain that according to the peace of Prague the -population of North Schleswig has to decide the question -of the frontier. Prussia alone, and no one else, is -authorised to do that. Moreover, the Treaty of Prague -does not mention North Schleswig at all, but only -refers, quite vaguely, to the northern districts of -Schleswig, which is something quite different. The -parties to the treaty were not called upon, and, as the -wording selected by them proves, never intended to deal -with any such conception as ‘North Schleswig,’ and -have not even used that term. But the Danes and -their friends have so long and so persistently endeavoured -to make the world believe that paragraph 5 -of the treaty stipulated for the cession of North -Schleswig, that they have come to believe it -themselves.</p> - -<p>“The Prussians alone have to decide as to the -extent of those districts. Prussia has no further -political interest in negotiating with Denmark if the -latter is not content with the concessions which the -former is prepared to make. Finally, only Austria has -a right to demand that the matter shall be settled in -any form.... If Prussia and Austria,” so concluded -the Minister’s directions, “now come to an understanding -as to cancelling that paragraph of the treaty—probably<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[p. 32]</span> -on the basis of further concessions on the -part of Prussia—absolutely no one has any right to -object.” Two articles were to be written on this -subject, one for the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung</cite>, -in which the reference to Austria was to be omitted, -and one for the <cite lang="de">Spenersche Zeitung</cite>, which was to -contain it.</p> - -<p><i>April 12th.</i>—The Count desires to have an article -written for the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>, part of which he -dictated to me. It ran as follows: “The <cite lang="fr">Constitutionnel</cite> -speaks of the way in which French manners are -being corrupted by foreign elements, and in this connection -it mentions Princess Metternich and Madame -Rimsky-Korsakow. It would require more space than -we can afford to this subject to show in its true light all -the ignorance and prejudice exhibited by the writer of -this article, who has probably never left Paris. Princess -Metternich would not act in Vienna as she is represented -by the <cite lang="fr">Constitutionnel</cite> to have acted in Paris; -and Madame Rimsky-Korsakow is not a leader of -society in St. Petersburg. The contrary must be the -case. Paris must be responsible if the two ladies so -conduct themselves, and exercise such an influence as -the French journal asserts they do. As a matter of -fact the idea that Paris is the home and school of good -manners is now only to be met with in other countries, -in old novels, and amongst elderly people in the most -remote parts of the provinces. It has long since been -observed, and not in European Courts alone, that the -present generation of Frenchmen do not know how to -behave themselves. In other circles it has also been -remarked that the young Frenchman does not compare -favourably with the youth of other nations, or with -those few countrymen of his own who have, far from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[p. 33]</span> -Paris, preserved the traditions of good French society. -Travellers who have visited the country at long intervals -are agreed in declaring that the forms of polite -intercourse, and even the conventional expressions for -which the French language so long served as a model, -are steadily falling into disuse. It is therefore quite -conceivable that the Empress Eugénie, as a sensitive -Spaniard, has been painfully affected by the tone and -character of Parisian society, but it would show a lack -of judgment on her part if, as stated by the <cite lang="fr">Constitutionnel</cite>, -she sought for the origin of that evil abroad. -But we believe we are justified in directly contradicting -that statement, as we know that the Empress has repeatedly -recommended young Germans as models for -the youth of France. The French show themselves to -be a decadent nation, and not least in their manners. -It will require generations to recover the ground they -have lost. Unfortunately, so far as manners are concerned, -all Europe has retrograded.”</p> - -<p>From the 13th of April to the 28th of May I did -not see the Minister. He was unwell, and left for -Varzin on Easter Eve. It was said at the Ministry that -his illness was of a bilious character, and was due to the -mortification he felt at the conduct of the Lasker -fraction, together with the fact that he had spoilt his -digestion at a dinner at Camphausen’s.</p> - -<p>On the 21st of May the Minister returned to Berlin, -but it was not until seven days later that I was called -to him. He then gave me the following instructions: -“Brass (the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung</cite>) must -not plead so strongly for the Austrians nor speak so -warmly of the Government of Napoleon. In the case of -Austria we have to adopt a benevolently expectant attitude, -yet the appointment of Klaczko and his connection<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[p. 34]</span> -with the Ministry is for us a suspicious symptom. -The appointment of Grammont to the French Foreign -Office is not exactly agreeable to us. The Czechs must -be treated with all possible consideration; but, on the -other hand, we must deal with the Poles as with -enemies.”</p> - -<p>I afterwards asked as to his health. He said he still -felt weak, and would not have left Varzin if things had -not looked so critical in Parliament. As soon as matters -were once more in order there, he would be off again, if -possible on an early day, in order to undertake a cure -with Karlsbad water, going to some seaside resort.</p> - -<p>On being called to the Count on Whit Sunday I found -him highly indignant at the statement of a correspondent -of the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>, who reported that there was -a scarcity of labour in the Spandau cartridge factory. -“Therefore unusual activity in the preparation of war -material!” he said. “If I were to have paid two visits -to the King at Ems it would not cause so much anxiety -abroad as thoughtless reports of this kind. Please go -to Wehrmann and let him ascertain at the Ministry of -War if they are responsible for that article, and if -possible get them to insert a correction in the <cite lang="de">Kölnische -Zeitung</cite> or in the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche</cite>, as it must appear in -an influential paper.”</p> - -<p>A diary entry on an undated slip of paper, but -written in May: “Bohlen yesterday bantered Bucher -about his ‘Easter mission,’ which appears to have been -to Spain.”</p> - -<p>On the 8th of June the Minister again left Berlin -for Varzin.</p> - -<p>Immediately on the commencement of the difficulties -with France respecting the election to the Spanish -throne of the Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, letters<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[p. 35]</span> -and telegrams began to arrive which were forwarded by -Bucher under instructions from the Chief. These consisted -in part of short paragraphs and drafts of articles, -as well as some complete articles which only required to -be retouched in the matter of style, or to have references -inserted with regard to matters of fact. These directions -accumulated, but owing to the spirit and energy inspired -by the consciousness that we were on the eve of great -events, and that it was an honour to co-operate in the -work, they were promptly dealt with, almost all being -disposed of on the day of their arrival. I here reproduce -some of these instructions, the order of the words -and expressions in the deciphered telegrams being -slightly altered, while the remainder are given exactly as -they reached me.</p> - -<p><i>July 7th, evening.</i>—A telegram to me from Varzin: -“The semi-official organs should indicate that this does -not seem to be the proper time for a discussion of the -succession to the Spanish throne, as the Cortes, who are -alone entitled to decide the question, have not yet -spoken. German Governments have always respected -Spanish independence in such matters, and will do so in -future, as they have no claim or authority to interfere -and lay down regulations for the Spaniards. Then, in -the non-official press, great surprise should be expressed -at the presumption of the French, who have discussed -the question very fully in the Chamber, speaking as if -that assembly had a right to dispose of the Spanish -throne, and apparently forgetting that such a course -was as offensive to Spanish national pride as it was conducive -to the encouragement of Republican tendencies. -This may be safely construed into a further proof of the -false direction which the personal <i lang="fr">régime</i> is taking. It -would appear as if the Emperor, who has instigated this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[p. 36]</span> -action, wanted to see the outbreak of a new war of -succession.”</p> - -<p>A letter from Bucher, which was handed to me on -the evening of the 8th of July, further developed the -idea contained in the last sentence of the foregoing -telegram. This letter ran: “Previous to 1868 -Eugénie was pleased to play the part of an obedient -subject to Isabella, and since the September revolution -that of a gracious protectress. She unquestionably -arranged the farce of the abdication, and now, in her -rage, she incites her consort and the Ministers. As a -member of a Spanish party she would sacrifice the peace -and welfare of Europe to the intrigues and aspirations -of a corrupt dynasty.</p> - -<p>“Please see that this theme, a new war of succession -in the nineteenth century, is thoroughly threshed out in -the press. The subject is inviting, especially in the -hands of a correspondent disposed to draw historical -parallels, and more particularly parallels <i lang="la">ex averso</i>. -Have the French not had experience enough of Spain -with Louis <abbr title="14">XIV.</abbr> and Napoleon, and with the Duc d’Angoulême’s -campaign for the execution of the decrees of -the Verona Congress? Have they not excited sufficient -hatred by all those wars and by the Spanish marriage -of 1846?</p> - -<p>“Bring personal influence to bear as far as possible -on the editors who have been intimidated by the Stock -Exchange, representing to them that if the German -press takes up a timid and hesitating attitude in presence -of the rhodomontades of the French, the latter will become -more insolent and put forward intolerable demands -in other questions affecting Germany still more closely. -A cool and determined attitude, with a touch of contempt -for those excited gentlemen who would like to slaughter<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[p. 37]</span> -somebody, but do not exactly know whom, would be -the most fitting means for putting an end to this uproar -and preventing serious complications.”</p> - -<p>Bucher added: “Protestants were still sent to the -galleys under the Spanish Government which was overthrown -in 1868.”</p> - -<p>Another communication of Bucher’s from Varzin of -the same date runs: “The precedents furnished by -Louis Philippe’s refusal of the Belgian throne on behalf -of the Duc de Nemours in 1831, on the ground that it -would create uneasiness, and by the protest which -England would have entered against the marriage of the -Duc de Montpensier to the sister of Queen Isabella, are -neither of them very applicable, as the Prince of -Hohenzollern is not a son of King William, but only -a remote connection, and Spain does not border on -Prussia.”</p> - -<p>The following was a third subject received from -Varzin on the same day: “Is Spain to inquire submissively -at the Tuileries whether the King whom she -desires to take is considered satisfactory? Is the Spanish -throne a French dependency? It has already been stated -in the Prussian speech from the throne that our sole -desire in connection with the events in Spain was that -the Spanish people should arrive at an independent -decision for the maintenance of their own prosperity and -power. In France, where on other occasions so much is -said of national independence, the attempt of the -Spanish people to decide for themselves has immediately -revived the old diplomatic traditions which led to the -Spanish war of succession 160 years ago.”</p> - -<p>On the same day, the 8th of July, a telegram was also -received from the Chancellor by the Secretary of State, -and it was handed to me for my information. It was to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[p. 38]</span> -the following effect: “I have now before me in the -despatch of Count Solms the official text of the Duc de -Grammont’s speech, and I find his language more brusque -and presumptuous than I had anticipated. I am in -doubt whether that is due to stupidity or the result of a -decision taken beforehand. The probability of the latter -alternative seems to be confirmed by the noisy demonstrations -which will most likely render it impossible for -them to draw back. I am reluctant to protest officially -against Grammont’s speech on international grounds, -but our press should attack it very severely, and this -should be done in as many newspapers as possible.”</p> - -<p><i>July 9th.</i>—A telegram from Bucher to the Secretary -of State, saying that the direction to the press to deal -with Grammont’s speech in very strong language is not -to apply to the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung</cite>.</p> - -<p>Another telegram of the same date to Thile, which -he brought to me: “Any one intending to summon a -Congress to deal with a debatable question ought not -first to threaten a warlike solution in case the opposite -party should not agree to his wishes.”</p> - -<p>Further, the Secretary of State handed me a telegram -from Berlin to the Chancellor, which was returned -by the latter with comments. I was to get these -circulated in the non-official journals. The telegram -was to the effect that Grammont had stated, in reply to -an interpellation by Cochery, that Prim had offered the -Spanish throne to the Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, -(Remark: “He can do nothing of the kind. Only the -Cortes,”) and that the Prince had accepted it. (Remark: -“He will only declare himself after he has been -elected.”) The Spanish people has not yet, however, -expressed its wishes. (Remark: “That is the main -point.”) The French Government do not recognise the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[p. 39]</span> -negotiations in question. (Remark: “There are no -negotiations excepting those between Spain and the -eventual candidates for the throne.”) Grammont therefore -begged that the discussion might be postponed, -as it was purposeless for the moment. (Remark: -“Very.”) The French Government would maintain -the neutral attitude which they had observed up to the -present, but would not permit a foreign Power to place -a Prince upon the Spanish throne, (“Hardly any -power entertains such an intention, except perhaps -France,”) and endanger the honour and dignity of -France. They trusted to the wisdom of the Germans, -(Remark: “Has nothing to do with it,”) and to the -friendship of the Spanish people. (Remark: “That is -the main point.”) Should they be deceived in their -hopes they would do their duty without hesitation or -weakness. (Remark: “We also.”)</p> - -<p>Bucher sent me a whole packet of sketches for -articles:—</p> - -<p>1. “If Spain records her decision to establish a -government which shall be peaceful, and tolerant in -religious matters, and which may be expected to be -friendly to Germany, who is also devoted to peace, can -it be in our interest to prevent the execution of that -resolve, and for that purpose to take measures of -doubtful legality? Shall we, because of a threat of -war made in pursuit of an arbitrary and dynastic -object, take steps to frustrate a reorganisation of -Spanish affairs advantageous to Germany? Is it not -rather an act of insolent presumption on the part of -France to address such a demand to Germany? Obviously -France lacks either the courage or the means -to enforce her views at Madrid; and it appears from -Grammont’s speech of the 4th of July that in her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[p. 40]</span> -anger at what has happened in Spain she is prepared -to throw herself upon Germany in a blind fit of rage. -That speech is to a certain extent a declaration of war -against the person of the Prince of Hohenzollern, in -case he should decide to accept the offer of the Spanish -people. France demands that Prussia shall undertake -the office of policeman in case a German Prince who -has attained <em>his majority</em> shows a disposition to meet -the wishes of the Spaniards. For a North German -Government to interfere with a citizen who should wish -to exercise his right to emigrate and adopt the Spanish -nationality would raise a very questionable point of law -from a constitutional standpoint. Even if such a -power existed, the dignity of Germany would demand -that it should only be applied in her own interests. -The calm consideration of those interests is not in the -least affected by the warlike threats of a neighbouring -State, which, instead of arguments, appeals to its -400,000 soldiers. If France lays claim in this manner -to the guardianship of adjoining nations, the maintenance -of peace can for the latter be only a question -of time, which may be decided at any moment. On -Grammont’s appointment to the French Foreign Office -it was feared in many quarters that the choice by the -Emperor Napoleon of a statesman who was only remarkable -for his personal impetuosity and his hostility -to Germany indicated a desire to secure for himself -greater liberty in breaking the peace. Unfortunately -the haughty and aggressive tone of the Duke’s speech -is not calculated to remove the apprehensions entertained -at that time. He is not a minister of peace, but -rather the instrument of a personal policy which -shrinks from no responsibility. In itself the question -as to who is to be the ruler of Spain is not one for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[p. 41]</span> -which Germany would go to war. But the French -demand that the German Government, in opposition to -its own interests, should put artificial difficulties in the -way of the Spaniards manifests a depth of self-conceit -which scarcely any government amongst the independent -States of Europe could submit to at the present -day. We seek no quarrel, but if any one tries to force -one upon us he will find us ready to go through with it -to the bitter end.”</p> - -<p>2. In another article (there was too much material -to be disposed of in one) the following considerations -were to be developed. This was not to be communicated -to the official organs, but either to the <cite lang="de">Kölnische -Zeitung</cite> or the <cite lang="de">Spenersche Zeitung</cite>, while it was to be -given in a curtailed form to Hahn’s <cite>Literary Bureau</cite>. -“If the candidature of Alphonso had up to the present -any prospect of success in Spain, it would have been -most prejudicially affected by the foolish uproar raised -in France, which stamped it with a French official -character. No worse service could be done to that -Prince than to represent him as a French candidate. -Montpensier had already suffered under the reproach -that he was a Frenchman. The Bourbons had formerly -been imposed upon the Spaniards, and had proved -themselves no blessing. The manner in which the -succession to the throne is now discussed in France -would offend a nation even less proud than the -Spaniards.”</p> - -<p>3. “Between the years 1866 and 1868, and particularly -before the fall of Isabella, France schemed a -great deal against Germany with Austria, Italy, and also -with Spain. Those intrigues were set at nought by the -Revolution of September, to which Count Bismarck -referred when he said at that time in Parliament that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[p. 42]</span> -the danger of war, which had been very imminent, had -been dispelled by an unforeseen event. So long as -France maintains her warlike intentions towards -Germany, she will desire to see on the Spanish throne -a dynasty favourable to those schemes, possibly an -Ultramontane one, as in case of an attack on Germany -it would make a difference of about 50,000 men to -France whether she had a benevolent, or at least a -neutral neighbour on the other side of the Pyrenees or -one whose attitude might be suspected. It is true that -France has nothing to fear directly from Spain if the -French, who for the past eighty years have been unable to -make up their own minds, and who cannot govern themselves, -would give up the attempt to play the part of -tutor to other nations. Let the period 1848–1850 in -France be compared with that of 1868–1870 in Spain, -and the comparison will not be to the advantage of the -nation <i lang="fr">qui marche à la tête de la civilisation</i>.”</p> - -<p>4. “England is accustomed to look upon the -Peninsula as a dependency of her own, and doubtless -believes that her influence can be more easily made to -prevail in a state of insecurity than under the rule of a -powerful dynasty. It is not wise of the English to recall -certain incidents of Spanish history, a course in which -they are followed by the French newspapers. The -Spanish version of the history of the wars against the -First Napoleon is very different to the English one. In -Buen Retiro every traveller is shown the site of a once -prosperous porcelain manufactory, which was needlessly -burned to the ground by the British allies of Spain.”</p> - -<p>5. Still another subject. “Very pleased with the -article in the <cite lang="de">Spenersche Zeitung</cite> (this was addressed to -me). Please again call attention in a somewhat similar -manner to the impetuosity of Grammont therein referred<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[p. 43]</span> -to. What is the real ground for all this alarm? A -paragraph in the <cite lang="fr">Agence Havas</cite> to the effect that the -affair had been settled without the concurrence of the -Cortes. It is probable that the French Government -itself had this paragraph inserted, and it was, moreover, -concocted in complete ignorance of the Spanish Constitution -and of the laws governing the election of a King. -This, which was the only new feature, was a barefaced -invention. It had already been mentioned in all the -papers that Prim’s speech of the 11th of June referred -to the Prince of Hohenzollern, and that had caused no -excitement in France. Is the present agitation then a -<i lang="fr">coup monté</i>? Does the French Government insist upon -a ‘row’? Has Louis Napoleon chosen Grammont in -order to pick a quarrel with us? At any rate he has been -unskilful in his treatment of this question. The general -moral to be drawn as often as possible is: the French -Government is, after all, not quite so shrewd as people -believe. The French have succeeded in many things -with the assistance of 300,000 soldiers, and owing to -that success they are regarded as immensely clever. Is -that really so? Circumstances show that it is not.”</p> - -<p><i>July 10th, evening.</i>—Received further series of -sketches and drafts for articles from Bucher, who acts as -the mouthpiece of the Chancellor’s views and intentions.</p> - -<p>1. For the <cite lang="de">Spenersche</cite> or <cite lang="de">Kölnische</cite>:—“Those -foreign Powers that are not concerned in the differences -respecting the Spanish throne are as desirous to maintain -peace as Germany herself. Their influence will, however, -be neutralised by Grammont’s ill-considered threats. -Should the German Governments consider the security -of our frontier to be seriously threatened, they would -scarcely come to a decision without convoking -Parliament.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[p. 44]</span></p> - -<p>2. “The French are running amuck like a Malay -who has got into a rage and rushes through the streets -dagger in hand, foaming at the mouth, stabbing every -one who happens to cross his path. If France is mad -enough to regard Germany as a fit object for a vicarious -whipping, nothing will restrain her, and the result will -be that she will herself receive a personal castigation.”</p> - -<p>3. “The semi-official journals in Paris pretend that -attention has been attracted there by the numerous -cipher despatches exchanged between Berlin and -Madrid, and that they have been clever enough to -decipher them. We do not know whether many despatches -have passed between the two capitals mentioned, -but we remember a communication which was made to -Parliament some time ago by Count Bismarck, according -to which the cipher system of our Foreign Office is -based on a vocabulary of about 20,000 words, each one -of which is represented by a group of figures arbitrarily -chosen. It is impossible to ‘decipher’ such a system in -the same way as those based on an altered alphabet and -other old methods. In order to read such a despatch, it -is essential to have the vocabulary. Does the cleverness -on which the Parisians pride themselves consist in -having stolen the key to our ciphers? This would be -in contradiction with the original statement that the -Prince of Hohenzollern’s candidature first became known -through a communication from Prim. It would, therefore, -appear that the official press wants to clear the -Government of the reproach of incapacity by a subsequent -invention, acting, on the maxim that it is -better to be taken for a rogue than a fool.”</p> - -<p>4. “According to a private telegram from Paris to -the <cite lang="de">Berliner Boersen Zeitung</cite>, our Ambassador there, -together with the second Secretary of Embassy, left for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[p. 45]</span> -Ems on receipt of a Note delivered to him immediately -after the Cabinet Council at Saint Cloud. We have -made inquiries in the proper quarter as to the accuracy -of this report, and have received the following answer: -Note delivered. ‘Not a shadow of truth. Werther’s -journey was decided upon and announced in Paris long -before the agitation began.’”</p> - -<p>5. “As was already known, Prim intended this -year, as on previous occasions, to visit Vichy. This -would have led to a meeting between himself and the -Emperor Napoleon and a discussion of the succession to -the Spanish throne. It is also reported that the Prince -of Hohenzollern was not indisposed to try confidentially -to bring about an understanding with the Emperor. -All this has been rendered impossible by the abrupt -tone of the Duc de Grammont. As Prim’s visit to -Vichy has long since been announced in the newspapers, -and the near relationship as well as the personal friendship -which hitherto existed between the Prince of -Hohenzollern and the Emperor rendered both meetings -probable, it is hard to avoid the suspicion that the -French Government, dreading insurmountable domestic -difficulties, desires to inflame French vanity in favour -of a war, which would at the same time promote the -dynastic views of the Empress Eugénie.”</p> - -<p><i>July 12th.</i>—Received from Secretary Wollmann a -note from Bucher in Varzin which is intended for me. -It has been sent to the Secretary of State, in order that -he should say whether there is any objection to its -being used in the press. He has no objection, and -so it goes to the newspapers. It runs as follows: -“The <cite lang="es">Imparcial</cite> publishes a letter from Paris to the -effect that the furious article in the <cite lang="fr">Constitutionnel</cite> -reproaching Prince Hohenzollern with his relationship<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[p. 46]</span> -to Murat, has been revised by the Emperor -himself.”</p> - -<p>In the evening the Minister returned. He is -dressed in plain clothes and looks very well.</p> - -<p><i>July 13th.</i>—Called early to the Chief. I am to -wait until a statement appears in the press to the effect -that the renunciation of Prince Hohenzollern was in -consequence of pressure from Ems, and then to contradict -it. “In the meantime (said the Minister) the -<cite lang="de">Norddeutsche</cite> should only say that the Prince’s present -decision has not been altogether unexpected. When -he accepted the throne which had been offered to him -he had obviously not foreseen that his decision would -occasion so much excitement in Paris. For more than -thirty years past the best relations existed between -Napoleon and the Hohenzollern family. Prince Leopold -could not, therefore, have apprehended any antipathy -to his candidature on the part of the Emperor. As his -candidature suddenly became known after the Cortes -had been adjourned till November, it may well have -been assumed that there would be time enough in the -interval to sound the Emperor as to his views. Now -that this assumption (here the Chancellor began to -speak more slowly as if he were dictating), which, up -to the acceptance of the Crown by the Prince, was still -quite legitimate, had proved to be partly erroneous, it -was scarcely probable that the Prince would, on his -own responsibility, be disposed to cope single handed -with the storm which his decision had raised, and might -yet raise, in view of the apprehensions of war of the -whole European world, and the influence brought to -bear upon him from London and Brussels. Even a -portion of the responsibility of involving the great -European nations, not only in one war, but possibly in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[p. 47]</span> -a series of wars, would weigh very heavily upon a man -who could not claim to have assumed it as part of the -duty of the Royal office which he had already accepted. -That was more than could well be expected of a Prince -who only occupied a private position. It was the -offensive tone of Grammont that alone prevented -Prussia from exercising her influence with the Prince.”</p> - -<p>The following is to be published in other papers: -“It cannot be denied that a Spanish Government -disposed to promote the cause of peace and to abstain -from conspiring with France would be of considerable -value to us. But if, some fourteen days ago, the -Emperor Napoleon had addressed himself confidentially -to Berlin, or indicated that the affair was attracting -attention, Prussia, instead of adopting an indifferent -attitude, would have co-operated in pacifying public -opinion in Paris. The situation has been entirely -altered through the aggressive tone of Grammont’s -speech, and the direct demands addressed to the King, -who is staying in privacy at Ems for the benefit of his -health, unaccompanied by a single Minister. His -Majesty rightly declined to accede to these demands. -That incident has created so much indignation in -Germany, that many people feel disappointed at Prince -Leopold’s renunciation. At any rate, the confidence in -the peaceful intentions of France has been so thoroughly -shaken that it will take a considerable time to restore -it. If commerce and trade have been injured by the -evidence which has shown us what a den of brigands -we have to deal with in France, the people of that -country must fasten the responsibility on the personal -<i lang="fr">régime</i> under which they at present live.”</p> - -<p>The Minister also desires it to be incidentally -remarked in the non-official press that of the South<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[p. 48]</span> -German Courts those of Munich and Carlsruhe had given -the most satisfactory declarations in this affair, while on -the other hand that of Stuttgart had expressed itself -evasively.</p> - -<p>Finally, I am to communicate to one of the local -papers that Count Bismarck has been sent for to Ems -to consult with the King as to summoning Parliament. -Breaking off a cure which he was undergoing, the -Chancellor has remained in Berlin in order to await -there the further instructions of his Majesty, or -ultimately to return to Varzin. The Count then added: -“Later on I will call for you several times, as there is -something more to be prepared for the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche</cite>. -We shall now be shortly interrupted.” The Crown -Prince arrived five minutes afterwards and had a long -interview with the Minister.</p> - -<p><i>July 14th.</i>—Our newspapers to call attention to the -loyal attitude of Würtemberg, “which in consequence -of a misunderstanding has been represented in some -journals as evasive.”</p> - -<p><i>July 15th.</i>—I am to send the following <i lang="fr">démenti</i> to -Wolf’s Telegraphic Agency for circulation: “The news -published by the <cite lang="de">Spenersche Zeitung</cite> respecting the -opening of Parliament is not quite accurate. It was -proposed a week ago by the Chancellor while in Varzin -that it should be convoked as soon as the Government -Bills were ready for submission to it. His Majesty -shares this view, and the Federal Council has accordingly -been summoned for to-morrow, Saturday, morning to -consider those measures.”</p> - -<p>In the evening the Chancellor dictated an article for -the <cite lang="de">Kreuzzeitung</cite> on the confusion by the public -between personal and private proceedings of the King -and his official acts. It ran as follows: “It appears<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[p. 49]</span> -from the Mazaredo pamphlet that the Hereditary Prince -of Hohenzollern informed the King at Ems of his -acceptance of the offer of the Spanish throne, probably -towards the end of June. His Majesty was then at -Ems for the purpose of taking the waters, and certainly -not with the intention of carrying on business of State, -as none of his Ministers had been summoned thither. -As a matter of fact, only so much has become public -respecting the King’s reply to the communication of -the Hereditary Prince (it was in the form of a letter -written in his Majesty’s own hand) that the Sovereign -was not pleased at the news, although he did not feel -called upon to offer any opposition. In the whole affair -no State action of any kind has been taken. This -constitutional aspect of the situation does not appear to -have been properly appreciated up to the present in -public discussions of the question. The position of the -King in his private correspondence was confounded with -his position as head of the State, and it was forgotten -that in the latter capacity, according to the Constitution, -the co-operation of the Ministry is necessary to constitute -a State action. It is only the French Cabinet -that appears to have thoroughly realised this distinction, -inasmuch as it brought the whole force of its diplomacy -to bear upon the person of the Sovereign, who was -staying at a watering-place for the sake of his health, -and whose private life was not protected by the usual -etiquette, in order to force him under official pressure -into private negotiations which might afterwards be -represented as arrangements with the Government.”</p> - -<p><i>July 19th.</i>—About an hour after the opening of -Parliament in the Royal Palace (1.45 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>) Le Sourd, -the French Chargé d’Affaires, delivered Napoleon’s -declaration of war at the Foreign Office.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[p. 50]</span></p> - -<p>Towards 5 o’clock in the evening I was called to -the Minister, who was in his garden. After searching -for him for some time I saw him coming through one -of the long shady alleys to the left which led to the -entrance in the Königgrätzer Strasse. He was brandishing -a big stick. His figure stood out against the -yellow evening sunshine like a picture painted on a -gold ground. He stopped in his walk as I came up to -him, and said: “I wish you to write something in the -<cite lang="de">Kreuzzeitung</cite> against the Hanoverian nobles. It must -come from the provinces, from a nobleman living in -the country, an Old Prussian—very blunt, somewhat in -this style: It is reported that certain Hanoverian nobles -have endeavoured to find pilots and spies in the North -Sea for French men-of-war. The arrests made within -the last few days with the assistance of the military -authorities are understood to be connected with this -affair. The conduct of those Hanoverians is infamous, -and I certainly express the sentiments of all my -neighbours when I put the following questions to the -Hanoverian nobles who sympathise with those traitors. -Have they any doubt, I would ask them, that a man of -honour could not now regard such men as entitled to -demand honourable satisfaction by arms whether their -unpatriotic action was or was not undertaken at the -bidding of King George? Do they not, as a matter of -course, consider that an affair of honour with them is -altogether out of the question, and should one of them -be impudent enough to propose such a thing, would -they not have him turned out of the house by the -servants or eject him <i lang="la">propriæ manu</i> after having, of -course, put on a pair of gloves to handle him with? -Are they not convinced that such miscreants can only -be properly described by the good old Prussian word<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[p. 51]</span> -<cite lang="de">Hundsvott</cite> (scurvy, infamous rogues), and that their -treason has branded their posterity to the third and -fourth generations with indelible disgrace? I beg them -to answer these questions.”</p> - -<p><i>Evening.</i>—In an article in the <cite lang="fr">Liberté</cite> of the 18th -instant, that paper reminds Italy that she owes her -liberation to France, and that in 1866 it was France -who brought about the Italian alliance with the Berlin -Cabinet. It then maintains that, in view of the seriousness -of approaching events, Victor Emmanuel, with truly -chivalrous sentiment, has not for a moment hesitated to -assure the French of his unconditional support. With -reference to this article our papers should observe: “Up -to the present the French have played the part of -masters to the whole world, and Belgium, Spain, and the -King of Prussia have in turn experienced their arrogance. -Their behaviour was somewhat like that of the -Sultan towards his Khedive, it was a kind of megalomania -based upon the bayonet. Their presumption is -now beginning to waver, so they court the assistance of -those good friends whom they pretend to have placed -under obligations to them.”</p> - -<p>The Minister subsequently dictated the following, to -be worked up for the German newspapers outside Berlin, -such as the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>, and for the English and -Belgium journals: “According to confidential communications -from loyal Hanoverian circles, amongst other -decisive factors which led the French to the declaration -of war, were the reports sent to Paris by Colonel Stoffel, -the Military Plenipotentiary in Berlin. Stoffel’s information -was, it appears, less accurate than abundant, as -none of those who supplied him with it being prepared -to forego the payments they received from him merely -because they had nothing to say, they occasionally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[p. 52]</span> -invented the news of which they warranted the correctness. -The Plenipotentiary had, it is said, been informed -that the arming of the Prussian infantry, both as regards -rifles and ammunition, was at present undergoing a -thorough transformation, and that consequently a -moment so favourable as the present for attacking -Prussia would hardly occur again, inasmuch as on the -completion of this change the Prussian armaments would -have been unassailable.”<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> - -<p>2. “It now appears to be beyond all doubt that the -French Government was aware of the candidature of the -Prince of Hohenzollern for months past, that they -carefully promoted it and foolishly imagined it would -serve as a means of isolating Prussia and creating a -division in Germany. No trustworthy information has -been received as yet as to whether and how far Marshal -Prim had prepared the way for this intrigue, in agreement -with the Emperor Napoleon. But doubtless that -point will ultimately be cleared up by history. The -sudden disappearance of Spain from the political field as -soon as the differences between France and Prussia broke -out gives matter for reflection and suspicion. It cannot -but be regarded as strange that after the zeal shown by -the Spanish Government in the matter of the Hohenzollern -candidature had been raised to boiling point it -should have suddenly fallen below zero, and that the -relations of Marshal Prim to the French Cabinet should -now appear to be of the most friendly character, while -the Spaniards seem no longer to feel any irritation at -the interference of France in their internal affairs.”</p> - -<p>3. “Rumours were circulated this afternoon to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[p. 53]</span> -effect that the former French Military Plenipotentiary, -Baron Stoffel, had been insulted in the street. On closer -inquiry it was ascertained that some individuals who -knew Stoffel followed him in the street, and on his -reaching his house struck the door with their sticks. -The police intervened energetically on the first report of -this matter and have taken measures to prevent a repetition -of such conduct and to provide that Baron Stoffel -shall not be interfered with on his departure this evening. -Excesses of this description are, however, highly reprehensible, -even when they are confined to words. The -former representatives of France are under the protection -of international law and of the honour of Germany until -they have crossed the frontier.”</p> - -<p><i>July 21st.</i>—Keudell asked me this morning if I knew -Rasch, the journalist, and if I could say where he was -now to be found, in Berlin or elsewhere. I replied that -I had seen him in Schleswig in 1864, afterwards at a -table d’hôte at the Hotel Weissberg, in the Dessauer -Strasse, where he lodged at the end of February. I -knew nothing more about him, but had heard that he -was extremely conceited, almost to the point of madness—a -political visionary who desired to convert the whole -world to republicanism. I was not aware of his whereabouts -in Berlin, but would make inquiries at Weissberg’s. -Keudell told me to hunt him up and ask him whether -he would go to Garibaldi and urge him to undertake an -expedition against Rome, at the same time carrying him -money from us. I pointed out that Rasch was perhaps -too vain to keep his own counsel. Keudell consoled -himself with the idea that he would doubtless prove a -good patriot. I declined to treat with Rasch in the -matter, as I could not speak to him in my own name but -in that of the Foreign Office, and that could be better<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[p. 54]</span> -done by some official of higher rank, who would make -a greater impression upon Rasch. Keudell seemed to -recognise the justice of this view. I made inquiries and -was able to report on the same evening that Rasch was -staying at Weissberg’s.</p> - -<p>Called to the Minister in the evening. He showed -me an extract from the <cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite>, and observed: -“They say here that the English would not allow the -French to attack Belgium. Well and good, but how -does that help the Belgians if the protection comes too -late? If Germany were once defeated (which God -forbid!) the English would not be able to assist the -Belgians in the least, but might, on the contrary, be -thankful if they themselves remained safe in London.”</p> - -<p>I am further to call attention to the “manner in -which France is begging for help on all sides—that -great warlike nation which makes so much parade of its -victories, representing them as having always been won -solely by the force of its own arms. They go begging -(use that expression) to Italy, to Denmark, to Sweden, -and above all to the German States, to whom they -promise the same brilliant destiny which they have -already prepared for Italy—political independence and -financial ruin.”</p> - -<p>Called up to the Minister again later. I am to -secure the insertion of the following in the non-official -German papers and in the Belgian and English press: -“The English Government observe their neutrality in -connection with the war that has now broken out in a -liberal and conscientious spirit. They impartially -permit both sides to purchase horses and munitions of -war in England. It is unfortunate, however, that -France alone can avail herself of this liberality, as will -appear from a glance at the geographical position of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[p. 55]</span> -two countries and from the superiority of the French at -sea. Then quote what Heffter (the book must be in -the library) has to say on this kind of neutrality, and -observe that the English jurists describe it more tersely -as ‘fraudulent neutrality.’”</p> - -<p><i>July 23rd.</i>—Called to the Minister five times -to-day. The press should urge the prosecution and -seizure of Rothan, an Alsacian who speaks German, -hitherto French Chargé d’Affaires at Hamburg, who -has been a zealous spy and instrument of French -intrigue in North Germany, and who is now understood -to be wandering along the coast between the Elbe and -Ems, as also that of the ex-Hanoverian officer, Adolf -von Kielmansegg, respecting whom further particulars -are to be obtained from the Ministry of the Interior. -The Count further wants the press to give a list of the -names of the Bavarian members of Parliament who -voted for the neutrality of that State in the national -war, mentioning their professions but without any -further remarks. “Give it first in Brass,” (<i>i.e.</i>, <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche -Allgemeine Zeitung</cite>,) he added. “You will -find such a list amongst the documents. The complaints -as to the manner in which England understands -neutrality must be continually renewed. The English -Government does not forbid the export of horses, though -only France can avail herself of that facility. Colliers -are allowed to load at Newcastle and to supply fuel for the -French men-of-war cruising in the North Sea. English -cartridge factories are working for the French army -under the eyes of the Government. In Germany the -painful feeling has become more and more widespread -that, under Lord Granville, England, while nominally -maintaining neutrality, favours France in the manner -in which it is really observed.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[p. 56]</span></p> - -<p>About 11 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> I was again called to the Minister. -The reports respecting the English coal ships to be at -once sent by a Chancery attendant to Wolf’s Telegraphic -Agency for circulation to the newspapers.</p> - -<p>In this connection may be mentioned an Embassy -report from London, dated the 30th of July, to the -following effect: Lord Granville had asked the -Ambassador if he had not stirred up the authorities in -Berlin against the English Government. The reply was -in the negative. The Ambassador had only carried out -his instructions. Public opinion in Germany influenced -the Government, just as the German press influenced -public opinion. The manner in which neutrality was -observed on the part of England had excited the greatest -indignation in Germany. The action of the English -Government, which indeed recognised that France was -in the wrong, but failed to give expression to that conviction, -was also bitterly resented there. Granville -replied that once it had been decided to remain neutral -that neutrality must be maintained in every respect. If -the export of contraband of war were forbidden, the -French would regard it as an act of one-sided hostility, -while at the same time it would ruin English trade in -the branches affected by such prohibition, and favour -American manufacturers. For the present, every one in -England approved of the maintenance of neutrality, -and therefore in a general way no change was possible -in these matters. At the same time, the English -Government was ready, in case of complaints reaching -them in an official way respecting any acts of illegality, -to institute an inquiry into the facts and secure the -punishment of the guilty parties. It did not seem -impossible to prevent the supply of English coal to -French men-of-war. Next Monday a Bill was to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[p. 57]</span> -submitted to Parliament for the amendment of the laws -regulating neutrality. The report concluded as -follows: “England is in many respects well disposed -towards us, but will for the present remain neutral. If -we make further attacks upon English public opinion -through our official press in connection with these -grievances, it will serve no purpose but to conjure up -future difficulties. Granville is not what we might -desire, but he is not prejudiced against us. He may -become so, however, if he is further provoked by us. -We can hardly succeed in overthrowing him, and if we -did his probable successor would in all likelihood be -much worse than himself.”</p> - -<p><i>July 24th.</i>—I am instructed by the Count to send -an article to the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite> respecting the -Dutch coal question. He gave me the following -information on this subject: “Holland asked us to -again permit the passage of Prussian coal down the -Rhine, and requested that a large transport of Rhenish -coal intended for Holland should be allowed to pass the -frontier. It was only to be used in factories, and the -Government of the Netherlands would prohibit its -re-exportation. Prussia willingly agreed to this, but -shortly afterwards it was ascertained that foreign vessels -were being loaded with coal in Dutch ports, and the -Government of the Netherlands subsequently informed -us that in promising to prevent the re-exportation they -had overlooked the circumstance that their treaty with -France did not permit this. Thereupon as a matter of -course the export of Prussian coal to Holland was -prohibited. In the interval, however, they seem to -have secured a sufficient supply in Holland to provide -the French fleet for a considerable time. That is a very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[p. 58]</span> -suspicious method of observing the neutrality promised -by the gentlemen at the Hague.”</p> - -<p>Bucher brings me the following paragraph from the -Chief, which is to be inserted in the <cite lang="de">Spenersche Zeitung</cite>, -or some other non-official organ, and afterwards in the -<cite>North German Correspondence</cite>: “In 1851 a literary -<i lang="fr">gamin</i> in Paris was commissioned to conjure up the Red -Terror in a pamphlet, which proved very useful to the -President Louis Napoleon, enabling him to escape from -a debtors’ prison and ascend the Imperial throne. The -Duc de Grammont now tries to raise the Spanish Terror -in order to save the Emperor from the necessity of -accounting for the hundred millions which he diverted -from the State Treasury into his private purse. The -literary gentleman in question was made a Prefect. -What reward can Grammont have had in view?”</p> - -<p><i>Evening.</i>—The Minister wishes an article to be prepared -for circulation in the German press describing -the French and French policy under the Emperor -Napoleon. This is to be first sent to the <cite lang="de">Spenersche -Zeitung</cite>, while the Literary Bureau is to secure the -insertion of the principal points in a condensed form in -the Magdeburg papers and a number of the smaller -journals to-morrow. The Count said (literally): -“The French are not so astute as people generally -think. As a nation they resemble certain individuals -amongst our lower classes. They are narrow-minded -and brutal,—great physical force, boastful and insolent, -winning the admiration of men of their own stamp -through their audacity and violence. Here in Germany -the French are also considered clever by persons who -do not think deeply, and their Ministers are regarded -as great statesmen because of their insolent interference<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[p. 59]</span> -in the affairs of the whole world, and their -desire to rule everywhere. Audacity is always impressive. -People think their success is due to shrewd -political calculation, but it is actually due to nothing -else than the fact that they always keep 300,000 -soldiers ready to back up their policy. That alone, and -not their political intelligence, has enabled them to -carry things with such a high hand. We must get rid -of this fiction.... In political affairs the French are -in the fullest sense of the word a narrow-minded -nation. They have no idea how things look outside -of France, and learn nothing about it in their schools. -The French educational establishments, for the greater -glory of France, leave their pupils in the crassest -ignorance as to everything beyond her frontiers, and so -they have not the slightest knowledge of their neighbours; -that is the case with the Emperor, or at -least he is not much better, to say nothing of -Grammont, who is an ass (<i lang="de">Rindvieh</i>). Napoleon is -ignorant at bottom, although he has been educated in -German schools. His ‘Cæsar’ was intended to conceal -that fact. He has forgotten everything. His policy -was always stupid. The Crimean War was against the -interests of France, which demanded an alliance or at -least a good understanding with Russia. It was the -same with the war in Italy. There he created a rival -in the Mediterranean, North Africa, Tunis, &c., who -may one day prove dangerous. The Italian people are -much more gifted than the French, only less numerous. -The war in Mexico and the attitude adopted in 1866 -were blunders, and doubtless in storming about as they -do at present the French feel conscious that they have -committed another blunder.”</p> - -<p><i>July 25th.</i>—At 11 o’clock this morning Count<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[p. 60]</span> -Bismarck and his family took the Holy Communion at -their residence. He asked whether any one in our bureau -desired to join them, but no one offered to do so. I -was for a moment tempted, but reconsidered the matter. -It might look as if I wished to recommend myself.</p> - -<p>Copies of the Benedetti draft treaty are sent to -Auber (the French Press Agency) and Heide.</p> - -<p><i>July 27th.</i>—It is to be stated either in the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche</cite> -or the <cite lang="de">Spenersche Zeitung</cite> that secrecy -respecting confidential communications between great -States is, as a rule, more carefully observed and maintained -than the public imagines. Nevertheless, the -French misrepresentation of Prussia’s attitude in the -affair of the candidature for the Spanish throne (in -Grammont’s despatch of the 21st of July) obliged the -authorities here to disregard these considerations of discretion. -Benedetti’s proposal has therefore been published -and it may be followed by other documents of -the same description. The Count concluded his directions -as follows: “We are at least entitled to tell the -truth with discretion in presence of such indiscreet -lies.”</p> - -<p>Bucher brings me from the Minister the following -sketch of a paragraph for the press: “The despatch of -the Duc de Grammont, the full text of which now lies -before us, is a desperate attempt to prove that the -origin of the situation which they have themselves -created was the Hohenzollern candidature, and to conceal -the motive which they confessed on many other -occasions—namely, the conquest by France of the left -bank of the Rhine and of Belgium. The inconsistency -of the whole assertion is made clear by the circumstance -that the offer of the Spanish throne to the Hereditary -Prince of Hohenzollern was first made in a letter dated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[p. 61]</span> -the 14th of February of the present year. Therefore, -there can be no connection between this offer and the -conversations in March, 1869, between Benedetti and Von -Thile, which were the outcome of aspirations or proposals -frequently ventilated in the press (also with -reference to Prince Frederick Charles). In 1851 the -President Louis Napoleon succeeded in obtaining -credence both at home and abroad for certain fictions, so -long as that was necessary for the attainment of his -object. The fiction which is now circulated, at a somewhat -late hour, to the effect that the Prince of Hohenzollern -was the candidate of Prussia is refuted in -advance by the fact, which has been well known for a -long time, that the Prussian Government as well as the -officials of the Confederation, had absolutely no knowledge -of, or connection with, the Spanish proposal. It -was resolutely opposed by his Majesty the King, as the -head of the Hohenzollern family, until last June, when -at Ems he reluctantly withdrew his opposition when it -was represented to him that otherwise Spain would fall -into the hands of the Republicans. We find it difficult -to understand what interest the French Government -can have in circulating such lies now that war has -actually broken out. The attempt of the Duc de -Grammont to conjure up the spectre of a restoration of -Charles <abbr title="5">V.</abbr>’s monarchy can only be explained by the -complete isolation of the French mind. That apparition -had no sooner manifested itself than it vanished before -the angry contempt of public opinion, which resented -being supposed capable of such credulity.”</p> - -<p>The Chancellor desires to see the following considerations -reproduced in the evening papers: “The -Benedetti document is by no means the only one dealing -with the matter in question. Negotiations were also<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[p. 62]</span> -carried on by others, as, for instance, by Prince Napoleon -during his stay in Berlin. Since French diplomacy was -ignorant enough to believe that a German Minister who -followed a national policy could for a moment think of -entertaining such proposals, it had only itself to thank -if it was befooled with its own schemes so long as such -fooling appeared calculated to promote the maintenance -of peace. Even those who pursue the most ignorant -and narrow-minded policy must ultimately come to -recognise that they have hoped for and demanded impossibilities. -The bellicose temper which now prevails -in Paris dates from such recognition. The hopes of -German statesmen that they would be able to befool -the French until a peaceful <i lang="fr">régime</i> was established in -France by some transformation of her despotic constitution -have unfortunately not been realised. Providence -willed it otherwise. Since we can no longer maintain -peace it is not necessary now to preserve silence. For -we preserved silence solely in order to promote the -continuance, and, if possible, the permanency, of peaceful -relations.”... The Minister concluded: “You can -add, too, that the question of French Switzerland was -also mentioned in the negotiations, and that it was -hinted that in Piedmont they knew quite well where -the French districts begin and the Italian districts -leave off.”</p> - -<p><i>July 28th.</i>—I see the original of Benedetti’s draft -treaty, and I am to receive a photographic copy of it -similar to that which has been prepared for distribution -amongst foreign Governments.</p> - -<p>Bucher handed me the following sketch of an article, -received by him from the Minister, which is to be inserted -in some organ not apparently connected with the -Government: “Those who now hold power in Spain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[p. 63]</span> -declare that they do not wish to interfere in the conflict -between Germany and France, because the latter might -create internal difficulties for them. They allow Bonaparte -to prohibit their election of the King of their own -choice. They look on calmly with folded arms while -other nations go to war over a difference that has arisen -out of a question of Spanish domestic interest. We had -formed quite another opinion of the Castilian <i lang="fr">gentilhomme</i>. -The Spanish temper seems to resemble that of -Gil Blas, who wanted to fight a duel with the army -surgeon but observed that the latter had an unusually -long rapier.”</p> - -<p><i>July 30th, 10 p.m.</i>—The Minister desires that attention -should be again called to the manner in which the -French are looking about for foreign assistance, and he -once more gives a few points: “France is begging in -all directions, and wants in particular to take Italy into -her pay. Here, as everywhere, she speculates upon the -worst elements, while the better elements will have -nothing to do with her. How does that harmonise with -the greatness of the nation which ‘stands at the head -of civilisation,’ and whose historians always point out -that it was only defeated at Leipzig because its -opponents were four to one? At that time they had -half Germany, Italy, Holland, and the present Belgium -on their side. To-day, when they stand alone, they go -round hat in hand to every door, and seek mercenaries -to reinforce their own army, in which they can therefore -have but very little confidence.”</p> - -<p><i>July 31st.</i>—This morning received from Roland one -of the photographic copies of the Benedetti draft.</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[p. 64]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="2">II</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">DEPARTURE OF THE CHANCELLOR FOR THE SEAT OF WAR—I -FOLLOW HIM, AT FIRST TO SAARBRÜCKEN—JOURNEY -FROM THERE TO THE FRENCH FRONTIER—THE -FOREIGN OFFICE FLYING COLUMN</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara">On the 31st of July, 1870, at 5.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, the Chancellor, -accompanied by his wife and his daughter, -the Countess Marie, left his residence in the Wilhelmstrasse -to take the train for Mainz, on his way to -join King William at the seat of war. He was to be -followed by some Councillors of the Foreign Office, a -Secretary of the Central Bureau, two deciphering clerks -and three or four Chancery attendants. The remainder -of us only accompanied him with our good wishes, as, -with his helmet on his head, he passed out between the -two sphinxes that guard the door steps, and entered his -carriage. I also had resigned myself to the idea of -following the course of the army on the map and in the -newspapers. A few days after the declaration of war, -on my begging the Minister to take me with him in -case I could be of use, he replied that that depended on -the arrangements at headquarters. At the moment -there was no room for me. My luck, however, soon -improved.</p> - -<p>On the evening of the 6th of August a telegram was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[p. 65]</span> -received at the Ministry giving news of the victory at -Wörth. Half an hour later I took the good tidings still -fresh and warm to a group of acquaintances who waited -in a restaurant to hear how things were going. Everybody -knows how willingly Germans celebrate the receipt -of good news. My tidings were very good indeed, and -many (perhaps most) of my friends celebrated them too -long. The result was that next morning I was still in -bed when the Foreign Office messenger Lorenz brought -me a copy of a telegraphic despatch, according to which I -was to start for headquarters immediately. Privy -Councillor Hepke wrote: “Dear Doctor,—Get ready to -leave for headquarters in the course of the day.” The -telegram ran as follows: “Mainz, 6th of August, -7.36 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> Let <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Busch come here and bring with him -a Correspondent for the <cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite> and one for -the <cite lang="de">Kreuzzeitung</cite>. Bismarck.” Hepke allowed me to -select these correspondents.</p> - -<p>I had therefore after all attained to the very height -of good fortune. In a short time I had provided for -all essentials, and by midday I had received my pass -legitimation, and free ticket for all military trains. That -evening a little after 8 o’clock I left Berlin together -with the two correspondents whom the Minister wished -to accompany me, namely, Herr von Ungarn-Sternberg, -for the <cite lang="de">Kreuzzeitung</cite>, and Professor Constantine Roeszler -for the <cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite>. In the beginning we travelled -first class, afterwards third, and finally in a freight car. -There were numerous long halts, which in our impatience -seemed still longer. It was only at 6 o’clock on the -morning of the 9th of August that we reached Frankfurt. -As we had to wait here for some hours we had time to -inquire where the headquarters were now established. -The local Commandant was unable to inform us, nor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[p. 66]</span> -could the Telegraph Director say anything positive on -the subject. He thought they might be still in Homburg, -but more probably they had moved on to Saarbrücken.</p> - -<p>It was midday before we again started, in a goods -train, by way of Darmstadt, past the Odenwald, whose -peaks were covered with heavy white fog, by Mannheim -and towards Neustadt. As we proceeded our pace -became gradually slower, and the stoppages, which were -occasioned by seemingly endless lines of carriages -transporting troops, became more and more frequent. -Wherever a pause occurred in the rush of this onward -wave of modern national migration, crowds hurried to -the train, cheering and flourishing their hats and handkerchiefs. -Food and drink were brought to the soldiers -by people of all sorts and conditions, including poor old -women—needy but good-hearted creatures whose -poverty only allowed them to offer coffee and dry black -bread.</p> - -<p>We crossed the Rhine during the night. As day -began to break we noticed a well-dressed gentleman -lying near us on the floor who was speaking English to -a man whom we took to be his servant. We discovered -that he was a London banker named Deichmann. He -also was anxious to get to headquarters in order to beg -Roon’s permission to serve as a volunteer in a cavalry -regiment, for which purpose he had brought his horses -with him. The line being blocked near Hosbach, on -Deichmann’s advice we took a country cart to Neustadt, -a little town which was swarming with soldiers—Bavarian -riflemen, Prussian Red Hussars, Saxon and -other troops.</p> - -<p>It was here that we took our first warm meal since -our departure from Berlin. Hitherto we had had to -content ourselves with cold meat, while at night our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[p. 67]</span> -attempts to sleep on the bare wooden benches with a -portmanteau for a pillow were not particularly successful. -However, we were proceeding to the seat of -war, and I had experienced still greater discomforts on -a tour of far less importance.</p> - -<p>After a halt of one hour at Neustadt, the train -crossed the Hardt through narrow valleys and a number -of tunnels, passing the defile in which Kaiserslautern -lies. From this point until we reached Homburg it -poured in torrents almost without cessation, so that -when we arrived at that station at 10 o’clock the little -place seemed to be merely a picture of night and water. -As we stepped out of the train and waded through -swamp and pool with our luggage on our shoulders, we -stumbled over the rails and rather felt than saw our -way to the inn “<span lang="de">Zur Post</span>.” There we found every bed -occupied and not a mouthful left to eat. We ascertained -however, that had even the conditions been more -favourable we could not have availed ourselves of them, -as we were informed that the Count had gone on with -the King, and was at that moment probably in -Saarbrücken. There was no time to be lost if we were to -overtake him before he left Germany.</p> - -<p>It was far from pleasant to have to turn out once -more into the deluge, but we were encouraged to take -our fate philosophically by considering the still worse -fate of others. In the tap-room of the “<span lang="de">Post</span>” the -guests slept on chairs enveloped in a thick steam -redolent of tobacco, beer, and smoking lamps and the -still more pungent odour of damp clothes and leather. -In a hollow near the station we saw the watchfire of a -large camp half quenched by the rain—Saxon countrymen -of ours, if we were rightly informed. While -wading our way back to the train we caught the gleam<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[p. 68]</span> -of the helmets and arms of a Prussian battalion which -stood in the pouring rain opposite the railway hotel. -Thoroughly drenched and not a little tired, we at length -found shelter in a waggon, where Deichmann cleared a -corner of the floor on which we too could lie, and found -a few handfuls of straw to serve us as a pillow. My -other two companions were not so fortunate. They had -to manage as best they could on the top of boxes and -packages with the postmen and transport soldiers. It -was evident that the poor Professor, who had grown -very quiet, was considerably affected by these hardships.</p> - -<p>About 1 o’clock the train set itself slowly in motion. -By daybreak, after several stoppages, we reached the -outskirts of a small town with a beautiful old church. -A mill lay in the valley through which we could also -see the windings of the road that led to Saarbrücken. -We were told that this town was only two or three miles -off, so that we were near our journey’s end. Our locomotive, -however, seemed to be quite out of breath, and -as the headquarters might at any moment leave Saarbrücken -and cross the frontier, where we could get no -railway transport and in all probability no other means -of conveyance, our impatience and anxiety increased, and -our tempers were not improved by a clouded sky and -drizzling rain. Having waited in vain nearly two hours -for the train to start, Deichmann again came to our -rescue. After a short disappearance he returned with a -miller who had arranged to carry us to the town in his -own trap. The prudent fellow, however, made Deichmann -promise that the soldiers should not take his horses -from him.</p> - -<p>During the drive the miller told us that the Prussians -were understood to have already pushed on their outposts -as far as the neighbourhood of Metz. Between 9 and 10<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[p. 69]</span> -o’clock we reached Sanct Johann, a suburb of Saarbrücken, -where we noticed very few signs of the French cannonade -a few days ago, although it otherwise presented a lively -and varied picture of war times. A huddled and confused -mass of canteen carts, baggage waggons, soldiers -on horse and foot, and ambulance attendants with their -red crosses, &c., filled the streets. Some Hessian -dragoon and artillery regiments marched through, the -cavalrymen singing, “<i lang="de">Morgenroth leuchtest mir zum -fruehen Tod!</i>” (Dawn, thou lightest me to an early -grave).</p> - -<p>At the hotel where we put up I heard that the -Chancellor was still in the town, and lodged at the house -of a merchant and manufacturer named Haldy. I had -therefore missed nothing by all our delays, and had -fortunately at length reached harbour. Not a minute -too soon, however, as on going to report my arrival I -was informed by Count Bismarck-Bohlen, the Minister’s -cousin, that they intended to move on shortly after -midday. I bade good-bye to my companions from -Berlin, as there was no room for them in the Chancellor’s -suite, and also to our London friend, whose patriotic -offer General Roon was regretfully obliged to decline. -After providing for the safety of my luggage, I presented -myself to the Count, who was just leaving to -call upon the King. I then went to the Bureau to -ascertain if I could be of any assistance. There was -plenty to do. Every one had his hands full, and I was -immediately told off to make a translation for the King -of Queen Victoria’s Speech from the Throne, which had -just arrived. I was highly interested by a declaration -contained in a despatch to St. Petersburg, which I had -to dictate to one of our deciphering clerks, although at -the time I could not quite understand it. It was to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[p. 70]</span> -effect that we should not be satisfied with the mere fall -of Napoleon.</p> - -<p>That looked like a foreshadowing of some miracle.</p> - -<p>Strassburg! and perhaps the Vosges as our frontier! -Who could have dreamed of it three weeks before?</p> - -<p>In the meantime the weather had cleared up. Shortly -before one o’clock, under a broiling sun, three four-horse -carriages drew up before our door, with soldiers riding -as postilions. One was for the Chancellor, another for -the Councillors and Count Bismarck-Bohlen, and the -third for the Secretaries and Decipherers. The two Councillors -and the Count having decided to ride, I took -a place in their carriage, as I also did subsequently -whenever they went on horseback. Five minutes later we -crossed the stream and entered the Saarbrücken high road, -which led past the battle-field of the 6th of August. -Within half an hour of our departure from Sanct Johann -we were on French soil. There were still many traces -of the sanguinary struggle that had raged there five -days ago—branches torn from the trees by artillery -fire, fragments of accoutrements and uniforms, the crops -trampled into the earth, broken wheels, pits dug in the -ground by exploding shells, and small wooden crosses -roughly tied together, probably marking the graves of -officers and others. So far as one could observe all the -dead had been already buried.</p> - -<p>Here at the commencement of our journey through -France I will break off my narrative for a while in order -to say a few words about the Foreign Office Field -Bureau and the way in which the Chancellor and his -people travelled, lodged, worked and lived. The Minister -had selected to accompany him Herr Abeken and -Herr von Keudell, Count Hatzfeldt, who had previously -spent several years at the Embassy in Paris, and Count<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[p. 71]</span> -Bismarck-Bohlen, all four Privy Councillors of Legation. -After these came the <i lang="de">Geheim-Sekretär</i>, Bölsing, -of the Centralbureau, the two deciphering clerks, -Willisch and St. Blanquart, and finally myself. At -Ferrières our list of Councillors was completed by -Lothar Bucher, and a new deciphering clerk, Herr -Wiehr, also joined us. At Versailles the number was -further increased by Herr von Holstein, subsequently -Councillor of Embassy, the young Count Wartensleben, -and Privy Councillor Wagner, the latter, however, not -being employed on Foreign Office work. Herr Bölsing -who had fallen ill, was replaced by Geheim-Sekretär -Wollmann, and the accumulation of work afterwards -required a fourth deciphering clerk. Our “Chief,” as -the Chancellor was usually called by the staff, had -kindly arranged that all his fellow-workers, Secretaries -as well as Councillors, should in a certain sense be -members of his household. When circumstances permitted -we lodged in the same house, and had the honour -of dining at his table.</p> - -<p>Throughout the whole war the Chancellor wore -uniform. It was generally the well-known undress of -the yellow regiment of heavy Landwehr cavalry. -During the early months of the campaign he as a rule -only wore the Commander’s Cross of the Order of the -Red Eagle, to which he afterwards added the Iron -Cross. I only saw him a couple of times in a dressing -gown. That was at Versailles, when he was unwell, the -only time, as far as I know, that anything ailed him -throughout the whole war. When travelling he was -usually accompanied in the carriage by Herr Abeken, -but on some occasions he took me with him for several -days in succession. He was very easy to please in the -matter of his quarters, and was willing to put up with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[p. 72]</span> -the most modest shelter when better was not to be had. -Indeed, it once happened that there was no bedstead -and that his bed had to be made upon the floor.</p> - -<p>Our carriages usually followed immediately after -those of the King’s suite. We started generally about -10 o’clock in the morning, and sometimes covered as -much as sixty kilometres in the day. On reaching our -quarters for the night our first duty was to set about -preparing an office, in which there was seldom any lack -of work, especially when we had the Field Telegraph at -our disposal. When communications were thus established, -the Chancellor again became what, with short -intervals, he had been throughout this entire period, -namely, the central figure of the whole civilised -European world. Even in those places where we only -stayed for one night he, incessantly active himself, kept -his assistants almost continuously engaged until a late -hour. Messengers were constantly going and coming -with telegrams and letters. Councillors were drawing -up notes, orders and directions under instructions from -their chief, and these were being copied, registered, -ciphered and deciphered in the Chancellerie. Reports, -questions, newspaper articles, &c., streamed in from -every direction, most of them requiring instant -attention.</p> - -<p>Never, perhaps, was the well nigh superhuman -power of work shown by the Chancellor, his creative, -receptive and critical activity, his ability to deal with -the most difficult problems, always finding the right -and the only solution, more strikingly evident than -during this period. The inexhaustible nature of his -powers was all the more astounding, as he took but -little sleep. Except when a battle was expected and he -rose at daybreak to join the King and the army, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[p. 73]</span> -Chancellor rose rather late, as had been his custom at -home, usually about 10 o’clock. On the other hand, he -spent the night at work, and only fell asleep as daylight -began to appear. He was often hardly out of bed and -dressed before he commenced work again, reading -despatches and making notes upon them, looking -through newspapers, giving instructions to his Councillors -and others, and setting them their various tasks, or -even writing or dictating. Later on there were visits to -be received, audiences to be granted, explanations to be -given to the King. Then followed a further study of -despatches and maps, the correction of articles, drafts -hurriedly prepared with his well-known big pencil, -letters to be written, information to be telegraphed, or -published in the newspapers, and in the midst of it all -the reception of visitors who could not be refused a -hearing yet must occasionally have been unwelcome. -It was only after 2, or even 3 o’clock, in places -where we made a longer stay, that the Chancellor -allowed himself a little recreation by taking a ride in -the neighbourhood. On his return he set to work again, -continuing until dinner time, between 5.30 and 6 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> -In an hour and a half at latest, he went back to -his writing-desk, where he frequently remained till -midnight.</p> - -<p>In his manner of taking his meals, as in his sleep, -the Count differed from the general run of mankind. -Early in the day he took a cup of tea and one or two -eggs, and from that time until evening he, as a rule, -tasted nothing more. He seldom took any luncheon -and rarely came to tea, which was usually served -between 10 and 11 at night. With some exceptions, -he therefore had practically but one meal in the -twenty-four hours, but, like Frederick the Great, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[p. 74]</span> -then ate with appetite. Diplomats are proverbially -fond of a good table, being scarcely surpassed in this -respect by the clergy. It is part of their business, as -they often have important guests who, for one reason -or another, must be put in good humour, and it is -universally recognised that nothing is better calculated -to that end than a well-filled cellar and a dinner which -shows the skill of a highly trained <i lang="fr">chef</i>. Count -Bismarck also kept a good table, which, when circumstances -permitted, became quite excellent. That was -the case for instance at Reims, Meaux, Ferrières and -Versailles, where the genius of our cook in the Commissariat -uniform created breakfasts and dinners that -made any one accustomed to a homely fare feel, as he -did justice to them, that he was at length resting in -Abraham’s bosom, particularly when some specially -fine brand of champagne was added to the other -gracious gifts of Providence. During the last five -months our table was also enriched by presents from -home where, as was only right and proper, our people -showed how fondly they remembered the Chancellor, -by sending him plentiful supplies of good things, both -fluid and solid, geese, venison, fish, pheasants, monumental -pastry, excellent beer, rare wines, and other -acceptable delicacies.</p> - -<p>At first only the Councillors wore uniform, Herr -von Keudell that of the Cuirassiers, and Count Bismarck-Bohlen -that of the Dragoon Guards, while Count -Hatzfeldt and Herr Abeken wore the undress uniform -of the Foreign Office. It was afterwards suggested -that the whole of the Minister’s <i lang="fr">personnel</i>, with the -exception of the two gentlemen first mentioned, who -were also officers, should be allowed the same privilege. -The Chief gave his consent, so the people of Versailles<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[p. 75]</span> -had an opportunity of seeing our Chancery attendants -in a dark blue tunic with two rows of buttons, black -collar trimmed with velvet, and a cap of the same -colour, while our Councillors, Secretaries and Decipherers -carried swords with a gold sword-knot. The elderly -Privy Councillor Abeken, who could make his horse -prance as proudly as any cavalry officer, looked wonderfully -warlike in this costume, in which, I fancy, he -delighted not a little. It was to him just as great a -pleasure to show off in all this military bravery as it -had been to travel through the Holy Land dressed up -as an Oriental, although he did not understand a word -of Turkish or Arabic.</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[p. 76]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="3">III</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdgcent">FROM THE FRONTIER TO GRAVELOTTE</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara">In the preceding chapter I broke off my narrative -at the French frontier. We recognised that we had -crossed it by the notices posted in the villages, “<span lang="fr">Département -de la Moselle</span>.” The white roads were -thronged with conveyances, and in every hamlet troops -were billeted. In these hilly and partially wooded -districts we saw small camps being pitched here and -there. After about two hours’ drive we reached Forbach, -which we passed through without stopping. In -the streets through which we drove the signboards were -almost entirely French, although the names were chiefly -German. Some of the inhabitants who were standing -at their doors greeted us in passing. Most of them, -however, looked sulky, which, although it did not add -to their beauty, was natural enough, as they had -evidently plenty of soldiers to provide quarters for. -The windows were all full of Prussians in blue uniforms. -We thus jogged on, up hill and down dale, reaching -Saint Avold about half-past four. Here we took up -lodgings, Chancellor and all, with a <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Laity, at No. -301 Rue des Charrons. It was a one-storey house, -but rather roomy, with a well-kept fruit and vegetable -garden at the back. The proprietor, who was said to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[p. 77]</span> -be a retired officer, and appeared to be well to do, had -gone away with his wife the day before, leaving only a -maid and an old woman, who spoke nothing but -French. In half an hour we had fixed up our office -and chosen our sleeping quarters. Work began without -delay. As there was nothing to be done in my department, -I tried to assist in deciphering the despatches, -an operation which offers no particular difficulties.</p> - -<p>At seven o’clock we dined with the Chancellor in a -little room looking out on a small courtyard with some -flower beds. The conversation at table was very lively, -the Minister having most to say. He did not consider -a surprise impossible, as he had satisfied himself during -his walk that our outposts were only three-quarters of -an hour from the town and very wide apart. He had -asked at one post where the next was stationed, but the -men did not know. He said: “While I was out I saw a -man with an axe on his shoulder following close at my -heels. I kept my hand on my sword, as one cannot tell -in certain circumstances what may happen; but in any -case I should have been ready first.” He remarked -later on that our landlord had left all his cupboards full -of underclothing, adding: “If this house should be -turned into an ambulance hospital, his wife’s fine underlinen -will be torn up for lint and bandages, and quite -properly. But then they will say that Count Bismarck -took the things away with him.”</p> - -<p>We came to speak of the disposal of the troops in -action. The Minister said that General Steinmetz had -shown himself on that occasion to be self-willed and -disobedient. “Like Vogel von Falkenstein, his habit of -taking the law into his own hands will do him harm in -spite of the laurels he won at Skalitz.”</p> - -<p>There was cognac, red wine, and a sparkling Mainz<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[p. 78]</span> -wine on the table. Somebody mentioned beer, saying -that probably we should be unable to obtain it. The -Minister replied: “That is no loss! The excessive consumption -of beer is deplorable. It makes men stupid, -lazy and useless. It is responsible for the democratic -nonsense spouted over the tavern tables. A good rye -whiskey is very much better.”</p> - -<p>I cannot now remember how or in what connection -we came to speak about the Mormons. The Minister -was surprised at their polygamy, “as the German race -is not equal to so much—Orientals seem to be more -potent.” He wondered how the United States could -tolerate the existence of such a polygamous sect. The -Count took this opportunity of speaking of religious -liberty in general, declaring himself very strongly in -favour of it. But, he added, it must be exercised in an -impartial spirit. “Every one must be allowed to seek -salvation in his own way. I shall propose that one -day, and Parliament will certainly approve. As a -matter of course, however, the property of the Church -must remain with the old churches that acquired it. -Whoever retires must make a sacrifice for his conviction, -or rather his unbelief.” “People think little -the worse of Catholics for being orthodox, and have no -objection whatever to Jews being so. It is altogether -different with Lutherans, however, and that church is -constantly charged with a spirit of persecution, if it -rejects unorthodox members. But it is considered -quite in order that the orthodox should be persecuted -and scoffed at in the press and in daily life.”</p> - -<p>After dinner the Chancellor and Councillors took a -walk in the garden from which a large building -distinguished by a flag with the Geneva Cross was -visible at a little distance to the right. We could see a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[p. 79]</span> -number of nuns at the windows who were watching us -through opera glasses. It was evidently a convent that -had been turned into a hospital. In the evening one of -the deciphering clerks expressed great anxiety as to the -possibility of a surprise, and we discussed what should be -done with the portfolios containing State papers and -ciphers in such circumstances. I tried to reassure them, -promising to do my utmost either to save or destroy the -papers, should necessity arise.</p> - -<p>There was no occasion for anxiety. The night -passed quietly. Next morning as we were at lunch a -green <i lang="de">Feldjäger</i>, or Royal Courier, arrived with dispatches -from Berlin. Although such messengers usually -make rapid progress, this one had not travelled any -quicker than I had done in my fear to arrive too late. -He left on Monday, the 8th of August, and had several -times taken a special conveyance, yet he had spent -nearly four days on the way, as it was now the 12th. I -again assisted the Decipherers. Afterwards, while the -Minister was with the King, I visited the large and -beautiful town church with the Councillors, the chaplain -showing us round. In the afternoon, while the Minister -was out for a ride, we inspected the Prussian artillery -park on a neighbouring height.</p> - -<p>We dined at four, on the Chancellor’s return. He -had ridden a long way in order to see his two sons, who -were serving as privates in a regiment of dragoon guards, -but found that the German cavalry had already pushed -forward towards the upper reaches of the Moselle. He -was in excellent spirits, evidently owing to the good fortune -which continued to favour our cause. In the course -of the conversation, which turned on mythology, the Chief -said he could never endure Apollo, who flayed Marsyas -out of conceit and envy, and slew the children of Niobe<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[p. 80]</span> -for similar reasons. “He is the genuine type of a -Frenchman, one who cannot bear that another should -play the flute better than, or as well as, himself.” Nor -was Apollo’s manner of dealing with the Trojans to the -Count’s taste. The straightforward Vulcan would have -been his man, or, better still, Neptune—perhaps because -of the <i lang="la">Quos ego</i>!—but he did not say.</p> - -<p>After rising from table we had good news to telegraph -to Berlin for circulation throughout the whole country, -namely, that there were ten thousand prisoners in our -hands on the 7th of August, and that a great effect had -been produced on the enemy by the victory at -Saarbrücken. Somewhat later we had further satisfactory -particulars to send home. The Minister of Finance in -Paris, evidently in consequence of the rapid advance of -the German forces, had invited the French people to -deposit their gold in the Bank of France instead of keeping -it in their houses.</p> - -<p>There was also some talk of a proposed proclamation -forbidding and finally abolishing the conscription in the -districts occupied by the German troops. We also heard -from Madrid that the Montpensier party, some politicians -belonging to the Liberal Union such as Rios Rosas -and Topete, as well as various other party leaders, were -exerting every effort to bring about the immediate convocation -of the representative assembly in order that the -Provisional Government should be put an end to by the -election of a King. The Duc de Montpensier, whom -they had in view as a candidate, was already in the -Spanish capital. The Government, however, obstinately -opposed this plan.</p> - -<p>Early next morning we broke up our quarters and -started for the small town of Falquemont, which we now -call Falkenberg. The road was thronged with long<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[p. 81]</span> -lines of carts, artillery, ambulances, military police, and -couriers. While some detachments of infantry marched -along the highway, others crossed the stubble fields to -the right, being guided by wisps of straw tied to poles -stuck in the ground. Now and then we saw men fall -out of the ranks and others lying in the furrows, fagged -out, while a pitiless August sun glared down from a cloudless -sky. Thick yellow clouds of dust raised by the -marching of the troops followed us into Falkenberg, a -place of about two thousand inhabitants, where I put up -at the house of the baker, Schmidt. We lost sight of -the Minister in the crowd and dust, and I only afterwards -ascertained that he had gone on to see the King at the -village of Herny. The march of the troops through the -town continued almost uninterruptedly the whole day. -A Saxon regiment, which was stationed quite near us, -frequently sent their caterers to our baker for bread, but -the supply was soon exhausted owing to the enormous -demand.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon some Prussian hussars brought in a -number of prisoners in a cart, including a Turco who had -exchanged his fez for a civilian’s hat. In another part -of the town we witnessed a brawl between a shopman and -one of the female camp-followers who had stolen some of -his goods, which she was obliged to restore. So far as I -could see, our people always paid for what they asked, -sometimes doing even more.</p> - -<p>The people where I lodged were very polite and -good humoured. Both husband and wife spoke a -German dialect, which was occasionally helped out with -French words. From the sacred pictures which were -hung on the walls they appeared to be Catholics. I -had an opportunity later on of doing them a small service, -when some of our soldiers insisted willy nilly upon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[p. 82]</span> -a supply of bread, which the baker was unable to -give them, as there were only two or three loaves in the -shop. But I must do my countrymen the justice to -say that they wanted the food badly, and were willing -to pay for it. I proposed a compromise, which was -accepted; each soldier was at once to get a good slice -and as much as ever he required next morning.</p> - -<p>On Sunday, the 14th of August, after luncheon, we -followed the Minister to Herny. He had taken up his -quarters in a whitewashed peasant’s house, a little off -the High Street, where his window opened upon a -dung-hill. As the house was pretty large we all joined -him there. Count Hatzfeldt’s room also served as our -office. The King had his quarters at the parish priest’s, -opposite the venerable old church. The village consisted -of one long wide street, with some good -municipal buildings. At the railway station we found -everything in the wildest confusion, the whole place -littered with torn books, papers, &c. Some soldiers -kept watch over two French prisoners. For several -hours after 4 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> we heard the heavy thunder of cannon -in the direction of Metz. At tea the Minister said: -“I little thought a month ago that I should be taking -tea with you, gentlemen, to-day in a farmhouse at -Herny.” Coming to speak of the Duc de Grammont, -the Count wondered that, on seeing the failure of his -stupid policy against us, he had not joined the army in -order to expiate his blunders. He was quite big and -strong enough to serve as a soldier. “I should have -acted differently in 1866 if things had not gone so well. -I should have at once enlisted. Otherwise I could -never have shown myself to the world again.”</p> - -<p>I was frequently called to the Minister’s room to -receive instructions. Our illustrated papers were to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[p. 83]</span> -publish pictures of the charge at Spichernberg, and also -to deny the statement of the <cite lang="fr">Constitutionnel</cite> that the -Prussians had burnt down everything on their march, -leaving nothing but ruins behind them. We could say -with a clear conscience that we had not observed the -least sign of this. It was also thought well to reply to -the <cite lang="de">Neue Freie Presse</cite>, which had hitherto been well -disposed towards us, but had now adopted another -policy, possibly because it had lost some subscribers -who objected to its Prussophile tone, or perhaps there -was something in the rumour that the Franco-Hungarian -party intended to purchase it. The Chancellor, in giving -instructions respecting another article of the <cite lang="fr">Constitutionnel</cite>, -concluded as follows: “Say that there -never was any question in the Cabinet Council of a -cession of Saarbrücken to France. The matter never -went beyond the stage of confidential inquiries, and it -is self-evident that a national Minister, inspired by the -national spirit, could never have dreamt of such a course. -There might, however, have been some slight basis for -the rumour. A misunderstanding or a distortion of the -fact that previous to 1864 the question was raised -whether it would not be desirable to sell the coal mines -at Saarbrücken, which are State property, to a company. -I wanted to meet the expenses of the Schleswig-Holstein -war in this way. But the proposal came to nothing, -owing to the King’s objections to the transaction.”</p> - -<p>On Monday, August 15th, about 6 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, the Minister -drove off in his carriage, accompanied by Count Bismarck-Bohlen, -and followed on horseback by Herr -Abeken, Herr von Keudell, and Count Hatzfeldt. The -rest of us remained behind, where we had plenty of -work on hand, and could make ourselves useful in other -ways. Several detachments of infantry passed through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[p. 84]</span> -the village during the day, amongst them being three -Prussian regiments and a number of Pomeranians, -for the most part tall, handsome men. The bands -played “<span lang="de">Heil dir im Siegerkranz</span>,” and “<span lang="de">Ich bin ein -Preusse</span>.” One could see in the men’s eyes the fearful -thirst from which they were suffering. We speedily -organised a fire brigade with pails and jugs and gave as -many as possible a drink of water as they marched by. -They could not stop. Some took a mouthful in the -palms of their hands, whilst others filled the tin cans -which they carried with them, so that at least a few had -some momentary relief.</p> - -<p>Our landlord, Matthiote, knew a little German, but -his wife only spoke the somewhat unintelligible French -dialect of this part of Lorraine. They were thought not -to be too friendly towards us, but the Minister had not -observed it. He had only seen the husband, and said -he was not a bad fellow. “He asked me as he brought in -the dinner if I would try his wine. I found it very -tolerable, but on my offering to pay for it he declined, -and would only accept payment for the food. He inquired -as to the future frontier, and expected that they -would be better off in the matter of taxation.”</p> - -<p>We saw little of the other inhabitants of the village. -Those we met were polite and communicative. An old -peasant woman whom I asked for a light for my cigar -led me into her room and showed me a photograph of -her son in a French uniform. Bursting into tears she -reproached the Emperor with the war. Her <i lang="fr">pauvre -garçon</i> was certainly dead, and she was inconsolable.</p> - -<p>The Councillors returned after 3 o’clock, the Minister -himself coming in a little later. In the meantime we -were joined by Count Henckel, a portly gentleman -with a dark beard, Herr Bamberger, a member<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[p. 85]</span> -of the Reichstag whom Count Bohlen was accustomed -to call the “Red Jew,” and a Herr von Olberg, who -was to be appointed to an administrative position of -some kind. We began to feel ourselves masters of -the conquered country and to make our arrangements -accordingly. As to the portion which we at -that time proposed to retain permanently a telegram to -St. Petersburg which I helped to cipher said that if -it were the will of Providence we intended to annex -Alsace.</p> - -<p>We heard at dinner that the King and the Chancellor, -accompanied by General Steinmetz, had made a -reconnaissance which took them within about three -English miles of Metz. The French troops outside the -fortress had been driven into the city and forts on -the previous day by Steinmetz’s impetuous attack at -Courcelles.</p> - -<p>In the evening, as we sat on a bench outside the -door, the Minister joined us for a moment. He asked -me for a cigar, but Councillor Taglioni, the King’s -decipherer, was quicker than I, which was a pity, as -mine were much better. At tea the Chancellor mentioned -in the course of conversation that on two -occasions he had been in danger of being shot by a -sentry, once at San Sebastian and another time at -Schluesselburg. From this we learned that he also -understood a little Spanish. Passing from the Schluesselburg -story, he came to relate the following anecdote, -which, however, I was unable to hear quite clearly, and -so cannot vouch whether it occurred to the Minister -himself or to some one else. One day the Count was -walking in the Summer Garden at St. Petersburg, and -met the Emperor, with whom, as a Minister in high -favour, his relations were somewhat unreserved. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[p. 86]</span> -two, after strolling on together for awhile, saw a sentry -posted in the middle of a grass plot. Bismarck took -the liberty to ask what he was doing there. The -Emperor did not know, and questioned the aide-de-camp, -who was also unable to explain. The aide-de-camp -was then sent to ask the sentry. His answer -was, “It has been ordered,” a reply which was repeated -by every one of whom the aide-de-camp inquired. The -archives were searched in vain—a sentry had always -been posted there. At last an old footman remembered -that his father had told him that the Empress Catherine -had once seen an early snowdrop on that spot, and had -given instructions that it should not be plucked. They -could find no better way of preserving it than by placing -a sentry to guard it, who was afterwards kept on as a -matter of habit. The anti-German feeling in Holland -and its causes was then referred to. It was thought to -be partly due to the circumstance that Van Zuylen, -when he was Dutch Minister at Berlin, had made himself -unpleasant, and consequently did not receive as -much consideration as he desired, so that he possibly -left us in ill-humour.</p> - -<p>On the 16th of August, at 9.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, we started for -Pont à Mousson. On the excellent high road to that -town we passed through several villages with fine -buildings, containing the public offices and schools. The -whole way was brightened by detachments of soldiers, -horse and foot, and a great variety of vehicles. Here -and there we also saw small encampments. A little after -3 o’clock we reached our destination, a town of about -eight thousand inhabitants. Passing the market-place, -where a regiment of Saxon infantry were bivouacked, -some of them lying on the ground on bundles of straw, -we turned into the Rue St. Laurent. Here the Chancellor,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[p. 87]</span> -with three of the Councillors, took up their residence at -the corner of Rue Raugraf in a little château overgrown -with red creepers. The rest of the party lived a few -doors off. I slept with Saint Blanquart in a room which -was a veritable museum of natural history and ethnology, -being filled with the most varied trophies from all parts -of the world.</p> - -<p>After a hasty toilette we returned to the office. On -our way we observed a number of notices posted on the -walls, one announcing our victory of the fourteenth, -another respecting the abolition of the conscription, and -a third by the Mayor, apparently in connection with -some attacks by civilians on our troops, warning the -inhabitants to maintain a prudent attitude. There was -also an order issued by our people strictly enjoining the -population to keep lights in their windows at night, -and to leave the doors of houses and shops open, and -to deliver up all arms at the Town Hall.</p> - -<p>During the greater part of the afternoon we again -heard the distant roar of cannon, and ascertained at -dinner that there had been renewed fighting near Metz. -Some one remarked that perhaps it would not be possible -to prevent the French retiring to Verdun. The Minister -replied, smiling, “That hardened reprobate Molk -(Moltke) says it would be no misfortune, as they would -then be delivered all the more surely into our hands”—which -must mean that we could surround and annihilate -them while they were retreating. Of the other remarks -made by the Chancellor on this occasion I may mention -his reference to the “small black Saxons, who looked so -intelligent” and who pleased him so much on his paying -them a visit the day before. These were either the -dark green Chasseurs or the 108th Regiment which wore -the same coloured uniform. “They seem to be sharp,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[p. 88]</span> -ready fellows,” he added, “and the fact ought to be -mentioned in the newspapers.”</p> - -<p>On the following night we were awakened several -times by the steady tramp of infantry and the rumbling -of heavy wheels as they rolled over the rough pavement. -We heard next morning that they were Hessians. The -Minister started shortly after 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, intending to proceed -towards Metz, where an important battle was -expected either that day or the next. As it appeared -probable that I should have little to do I availed myself -of the opportunity to take a walk in the environs with -Willisch. Going up stream we came upon a pontoon -bridge erected by the Saxons, who had collected there a -large number of conveyances, amongst others some carts -from villages near Dresden. We swam across the clear -deep river and back again.</p> - -<p>On returning to the bureau in the Rue Raugraf we -found that the Chancellor had not yet arrived. We -had news, however, of the battle which had been fought -the day before to the west of Metz. There were heavy -losses on our side, and it was only with great difficulty -that Bazaine was prevented from breaking through our -lines. It was understood that the village of Mars la -Tour was the point at which the conflict had raged -most violently. The leaden rain of the chassepots was -literally like a hailstorm. One of the cuirassier regiments, -we were told, with the exaggeration which is not -unusual in such cases, was almost utterly destroyed and -the dragoon guards had also suffered severely. Not a -single division escaped without heavy losses. To-day, -however, we had superior numbers as the French had -had yesterday, and if the latter attempted another sortie -we might expect to be victorious.</p> - -<p>It did not, however, appear certain, and we were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[p. 89]</span> -accordingly somewhat uneasy. We could not sit still -or think steadily, and, as in fever, we were oppressed -by the same ideas, which returned again and again. We -walked to the market and then to the bridge, where we -saw the wounded, who were now gradually coming in, -those with light injuries on foot and the others in -ambulance cars. On the road towards Metz we met a -batch of over 120 prisoners. They were for the most -part small, poor-looking specimens; but there were also -amongst them some tall, broad-shouldered fellows from -the guards, who could be recognised by the white -facings of their tunics. Then once more to the market-place -and around the garden behind the house, where a -dog lies buried under a tombstone with the following -touching inscription:—</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza" lang="fr"> - <div class="verse indent2"><span class="smcap">Girard Aubert épitaphe à sa chienne.</span></div> - <div class="verse indent3">Ici tu gis, ma vieille amie,</div> - <div class="verse indent3">Tu n’es donc plus pour mes vieux jours.</div> - <div class="verse indent3">O toi, ma Diane chérie,</div> - <div class="verse indent3">Je te pleurerai toujours.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>At length, about 6 o’clock, the Chancellor returned. -No great battle had taken place that day, but it was -highly probable that an engagement would occur on the -morrow. The Chief told us at dinner that he had -visited his eldest son, Count Herbert, in the field -ambulance at Mariaville, where he was lying in consequence -of a bullet wound in the thigh, which he had -received during the general cavalry charge at Mars la -Tour. After riding about for some time the Minister -at length found his son in a farmhouse with a considerable -number of other wounded soldiers. They were in -charge of a surgeon, who was unable to obtain a supply -of water, and who scrupled to take the turkeys and -chickens that were running about the yard for the use<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[p. 90]</span> -of his patients. “He said he could not,” added the -Minister, “and all our arguments were in vain. I then -threatened to shoot the poultry with my revolver and -afterwards gave him twenty francs to pay for fifteen. -At last I remembered that I was a Prussian General, -and ordered him to do as I told him, whereupon he -obeyed me. I had, however, to look for the water -myself and to have it fetched in barrels.”</p> - -<p>In the meantime the American General Sheridan -had arrived in the town and asked for an interview -with the Chancellor. He had come from Chicago, and -lodged at the Croix Blanc in the market-place. At the -desire of the Minister I called upon General Sheridan -and informed him that Count Bismarck would be -pleased to see him in the course of the evening. The -general was a small, corpulent gentleman of about -forty-five, with dark moustache and chin tuft, and -spoke the purest Yankee dialect. He was accompanied -by his aide-de-camp, Forsythe, and a journalist named -MacLean, who served as an interpreter, acting at the -same time as war correspondent for the <cite>New York -World</cite>.</p> - -<p>During the night further strong contingents of -troops marched through the town—Saxons, as we ascertained -next day. In the morning we heard that the -King and Chancellor had gone off at 3 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> A battle -was being fought on about the same ground as that of -the 16th, and it appears as if this engagement were to -prove decisive. It will be easily understood that we -were still more excited than we had been during the -last few days. Uneasy, and impatient for particulars -of what was passing, we started in the direction of -Metz, going some four kilometres from Pont à Mousson, -suffering both mentally and physically, from our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[p. 91]</span> -anxiety and suspense as well as from the sweltering -heat of a windless day and a blazing sky. We met -numbers of the less severely wounded coming towards -the town, singly, in couples, and in large companies. -Some still carried their rifles, while others leant upon -sticks. One had the red cape of a French cavalryman -thrown over his shoulders. They had fought two days -before at Mars la Tour and Gorze. They had only -heard rumours of this day’s battle, and these, good and -bad as they happened to be, were soon circulated in an -exaggerated form throughout the town. The good -news at length seemed to get the upper hand, although -late in the evening we had still heard nothing definite. -We dined without our Chief, for whom we waited in -vain until midnight. Later on we heard that he, accompanied -by Sheridan and Count Bismarck-Bohlen, -was with the King at Rezonville.</p> - -<p>On Friday, August the 19th, when we ascertained -for certain that the Germans had been victorious, -Abeken, Keudell, Hatzfeldt and I drove to the battle-field. -At Gorze the Councillors got out, intending to -proceed further on horseback. The narrow road was -blocked with all sorts of conveyances, so that it was -impossible for our carriage to pass. From the same -direction as ourselves came carts with hay, straw, wood, -and baggage, while ammunition waggons and vehicles -conveying the wounded were coming the other way. -The latter were being moved into the houses, nearly all -of which were turned into hospitals and were distinguished -by the Geneva cross. At almost every -window we could see men with their heads or arms in -bandages.</p> - -<p>After about an hour’s delay we were able to move -slowly forward. The road to the right not far from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[p. 92]</span> -Gorze would have taken us in little over half an hour -to Rezonville, where I was to meet the Minister and -our horsemen. My map, however, failed to give me -any guidance, and I was afraid of going too near Metz. -I therefore followed the high road further, and passing -a farm where the house, barn and stables were full of -wounded, we came to the village of Mars la Tour.</p> - -<p>Immediately behind Gorze we had already met -traces of the battle,—pits dug in the earth by shells, -branches torn off by shot and some dead horses. As -we went on we came upon the latter more frequently, -occasionally two or three together, and at one place a -group of eight carcases. Most of them were fearfully -swollen, with their legs in the air, while their heads lay -slack on the ground. There was an encampment of -Saxon troops in Mars la Tour. The village seemed to -have suffered little from the engagement of the 16th. -Only one house was burned down. I asked a lieutenant -of Uhlans where Rezonville was. He did not know. -Where was the King? “At a place about two hours -from here,” he said, “in that direction,”—pointing -towards the east. A peasant woman having directed -us the same way, we took that road, which brought us -after a time to the village of Vionville. Shortly before -reaching this place I saw for the first time one of the -soldiers who had fallen in the late battle, a Prussian -musketeer. His features were as dark as those of a -Turco, and were fearfully bloated. All the houses in -the village were full of men who were severely wounded. -German and French assistant-surgeons and hospital -attendants, all wearing the Geneva cross, were busy -moving from place to place.</p> - -<p>I decided to wait there for the Minister and the -Councillors, as I believed they must certainly pass that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[p. 93]</span> -way soon. As I went towards the battle-field through -a side street I saw a human leg lying in a ditch, half -covered with a bundle of blood-stained rags. Some -four hundred paces from the village were two parallel -pits about three hundred feet in length, and neither -wide nor deep, at which the grave diggers were still -working. Near by had been collected a great mass of -German and French dead. Some of the bodies were -half naked, but most of them were still in uniform. -All were of a dark grey colour and were fearfully -swollen from the heat. There might have been one -hundred and fifty corpses in all, and others were being -constantly unloaded from the carts. Doubtless, many -had already been buried. Further on in the direction -of Metz the ground rose slightly, and there in particular -great numbers appeared to have fallen. The ground -was everywhere covered with French caps, Prussian -helmets, knapsacks, arms, uniforms, underclothing, -shoes, and paper. Here and there in the furrows of a -potato field lay single bodies, one with a whole leg torn -away, another with half the head blown off, while some -had the right hand stretched out stiffly pointing towards -the sky. There were also a few single graves, marked -with a chassepot stuck in the ground or with a cross -made from the wood of a cigar box roughly tied together. -The effluvium was very noticeable, and at times, when -the wind came from the direction of a heap of dead -horses, it became unendurable.</p> - -<p>It was time to return to the carriage, and besides I -had seen quite enough of the battle-field. I took another -way back, but I was again obliged to pass further masses -of the dead, this time all French. Near some of the -bodies lay packets of letters that had been carried in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[p. 94]</span> -their knapsacks. I brought some of these with me as a -memento, amongst them being two letters in German -from one Anastasia Stampf, of Scherrweiler, near -Schlettstadt. These I found lying by a French soldier -who had been stationed at Caen shortly before the -outbreak of the war. One of them, in indifferent -spelling, was dated “The 25th of the Hay Month, 1870,” -and concluded with the words, “We constantly commend -thee to the protection of the Blessed Virgin!”</p> - -<p>It was 4 o’clock when I got back, and as the -Minister had not arrived, we returned to Gorze. Here -we met Keudell, who, with Abeken and Count Hatzfeldt -had called upon the Chief at Rezonville. During the -battle of the 18th instant, which was decided at Gravelotte, -the Minister had, together with the King, ventured -a considerable distance towards the front, so that for a -time both of them were in some danger. Bismarck had -afterwards with his own hands taken water to the -wounded. At 9 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> I saw him again safe and -sound at Pont à Mousson, where we all took supper -with him. Naturally, the conversation turned for the -most part on the last two battles and the resulting gains -and losses. The French had fallen in huge masses. The -Minister had seen our artillery mow down whole lines -of their guards near Gravelotte. We had also suffered -severely. Only the losses of the 16th of August were -known up to the present. “A great many noble -Prussian families will go into mourning,” the Chief said. -“Wesdehlen and Reuss lie in their graves, Wedell and -Finkenstein are dead, Rahden (Lucca’s husband) is shot -through both cheeks, and a crowd of officers commanding -regiments or battalions have either fallen or are severely -wounded. The whole field near Mars la Tour was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[p. 95]</span> -yesterday still white and blue with the bodies of -cuirassiers and dragoons.” In explanation of this statement, -we were informed that near the village referred to -there had been a great cavalry charge upon the French, -who were pressing forward in the direction of Verdun. -This charge was repelled by the enemy’s infantry in -Balaclava fashion, but had so far served its purpose that -the French were kept in check until reinforcements -arrived. The Chancellor’s two sons had also gallantly -ridden into that leaden hailstorm, the elder receiving -no less than three bullets, one passing through the -breast of his tunic, another hitting his watch, and the -third lodging in his thigh. The younger appears to -have escaped unhurt. The Chief related, evidently -with some pride, how Count Bill rescued two comrades -who had lost their horses, dragging them out of the -<i lang="fr">mêlée</i> in his powerful grasp and riding off with them. -Still more German blood was shed on the 18th, but we -secured the victory, and obtained the object of our -sacrifices. That evening Bazaine’s army had finally -retired to Metz, and even French officers whom we had -captured admitted that they now believed their cause -was lost. The Saxons, who had made long marches on -the two previous days, were able to take an important -part in the battle near the village of Saint Privat. -They now occupied the road to Thionville, so that Metz -was entirely surrounded by our troops.</p> - -<p>It appeared that the Chancellor did not quite approve -of the course taken by the military authorities in both -battles. Among other things he said that Steinmetz -had abused the really astounding gallantry of our men—“he -was a spendthrift of blood.” The Minister spoke -with violent indignation of the barbarous manner in -which the French conducted the war; they were said to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[p. 96]</span> -have fired upon the Geneva cross and even upon a flag -of truce.</p> - -<p>Sheridan seemed to have speedily got on a friendly -footing with the Minister, as I was instructed to invite -him and his two companions to dinner on the following -evening.</p> - -<p>At 11 o’clock on the 20th of August the Chancellor -received a visit from the Crown Prince, who was -stationed with his troops about twenty-five English -miles from Pont à Mousson on the road from Nancy to -Châlons. In the afternoon some twelve hundred -prisoners, including two carts conveying officers, passed -through the Rue Notre Dame in charge of a detachment -of Prussian cuirassiers. Sheridan, Forsythe and MacLean -dined that evening with the Minister, who kept up a -lively conversation in good English with the American -general. The Chief and his American guests had champagne -and porter. The latter was drunk out of pewter -mugs, one of which the Minister filled for me. I mention -this because no one else at table had porter, and the gift -was particularly welcome, as since we left Saarbrücken -we had had no beer. Sheridan, who was known as a -successful soldier on the Federal side in the last year of -the American Civil War, spoke a good deal. He told us -of the hardships he and his companions had undergone -during the ride from the Rocky Mountains to Chicago, -of the fearful swarms of mosquitoes, of a great heap of -bones in California or thereabouts in which fossils were -found, and of buffalo and bear hunting, &c. The Chancellor -also told some hunting stories. One day in Finland -he found himself in dangerous proximity to a big -bear. It was white with snow, and he had barely been -able to see it. “At last I fired, however, and the bear -fell some six paces from me. But it was not killed, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[p. 97]</span> -might get up again. I knew what I had to expect, and -so without stirring I quietly reloaded, and as soon as it -stirred I shot it dead.”</p> - -<p>We were very busy on the forenoon of the 21st of -August, preparing reports and leading articles to be forwarded -to Germany. We heard that the bearer of a flag -of truce who was fired upon by the French was Captain or -Major Verdy, of Moltke’s general staff, and that the trumpeter -who accompanied him was wounded. Trustworthy -information was received from Florence to the effect that -Victor Emmanuel and his Ministers had, in consequence -of our victories, decided to observe neutrality, which up -to that time was anything but certain. Now it was at -last possible to estimate, at least approximately, the losses -of the French at Courcelles, Mars la Tour, and Gravelotte. -The Minister put them at about 50,000 men during the -three days, of whom about 12,000 were killed. He added: -“The ambition and mutual jealousy of some of our -generals was to blame for the severity of our losses. -That the guards charged too soon was entirely due to -their jealousy of the Saxons who were coming up behind -them.”</p> - -<p>That afternoon I had some talk with one of the -dragoon guards who had been in the charge on the -French battery on the 16th. He maintained that -besides Finkenstein and Reuss, the two Treskows were -also dead and buried; and that after the battle one -squadron had been formed out of the three squadrons of -his regiment that had been in action, and one regiment -out of the two dragoon regiments that had been engaged. -He spoke very modestly about that gallant deed. “We -had to charge,” he said, “in order to prevent our artillery -being taken by the enemy.” While I was talking to -him some Saxon infantry passed by with a batch of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[p. 98]</span> -about 150 prisoners. I ascertained from the escort that -after their long march the Saxons had fought in the -battle near Roncourt and Saint Privat. Once they had -charged with the bayonet and the butt ends of their -rifles. They had lost a good many officers, including -General Krausshaar.</p> - -<p>As I entered the room that evening at tea time the -Chief said: “How are you, doctor?”</p> - -<p>“I thank your Excellency, quite well.”</p> - -<p>“Have you seen something of what has been going -on?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, your Excellency, the battle-field near Vionville.”</p> - -<p>“It is a pity you were not with us to share our -adventures on the 18th.”</p> - -<p>The Chancellor then went on to give us a full account -of his experiences during the last hours of the battle and -the following night. I shall give these and other particulars -later on, as I heard them from the Minister. -Here I will only mention that the King had ventured -too far to the front, which Bismarck thought was not -right. Referring to our men, the American General -Sheridan said: “Your infantry is the best in the -world; but it was wrong of your generals to advance -their cavalry as they did.” I may further mention that -Bohlen in the course of the conversation said to the -Chancellor: “Did you hear how the Bavarian muttered -when the result seemed doubtful—‘Things look bad! -It’s a bad case!’—and was obviously delighted to think -we were going to be beaten?” The Bavarian referred -to was Prince Luitpold. The name of General Steinmetz -then came up. The Chancellor said that he was brave, -but self-willed and excessively vain. Small and slight -of figure, when he came into the Diet he always stood -near the President’s chair so as to be noticed. He used<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[p. 99]</span> -to attract attention by pretending to be very busy taking -notes of what went on, as if he were following the debate -with great care. “He evidently thought the newspapers -would mention it, and praise his zeal. If I am not -mistaken his calculation proved correct.”</p> - -<p>On Monday, the 22nd of August, I wrote in my -diary: “Called to the Chief at 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> He asked -first after my health and whether I also had been -attacked by dysentery. He had had a bad time of it -the night before. The Count down with dysentery! -God save him from it! It would be worse than the -loss of a battle. Without him our whole cause would -be reduced to uncertainty and vacillation.”</p> - -<p>On the instructions of the Chief I sent the -<cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite> the translation of part of a confidential -report according to which the Emperor -Alexander was favourably disposed towards the French. -I also wired to Berlin respecting the closing of some -small telegraph offices the officials of which were -required for the field service.</p> - -<p>There is no longer any doubt that we shall retain -Alsace and Metz, with its environs, in case of a final -victory over France. The considerations that have led -the Chancellor to this conclusion, and which have -already been discussed in an academic way in the -English press, are somewhat as follows:</p> - -<p>A war indemnity, however great it may be, would -not compensate us for the enormous sacrifices we have -made. We must protect South Germany with its -exposed position against French attacks, and thus put an -end to the pressure exercised upon it by France during -two centuries, especially as this pressure has during the -whole time greatly contributed to German disorganisation -and confusion. Baden, Würtemberg, and the other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[p. 100]</span> -south-western districts must not in future be threatened -by Strassburg and subject to attack from that point. -This also applies to Bavaria. Within 150 years the -French have made war upon South-west Germany more -than a dozen times. Efforts were made in 1814 and -1815 in a forbearing spirit to secure guarantees against -a renewal of such attacks. That forbearance, however, -was without effect, and it would now also remain fruitless. -The danger lies in the incurable arrogance and -lust of power which is part of the French character, -qualities that might be abused by every ruler—not by -any means by the Bonapartes alone—for the purpose of -attacking peaceful neighbours. Our protection against -this evil does not lie in vain attempts periodically to -soothe French susceptibilities, but rather in securing a -well-defended frontier. France, by repeatedly annexing -German territory and all the natural defences on our -western frontier, has put herself in a position to force her -way into South Germany with a comparatively small -force before assistance can be brought from the north. -Such invasions have repeatedly occurred under Louis -<abbr title="14">XIV.</abbr> and his successor, as well as under the Republic -and the First Empire, and the sense of insecurity -obliges the German States to reckon constantly with -France. That the annexation of a piece of territory -will produce bitter feelings amongst the French is a -matter of no consequence. Such feelings would exist -in any case, even without any cession of territory. -Austria did not lose an acre of soil in 1866, and yet -what thanks have we had? Our victory at Sadowa -had already filled the French with hatred and vexation. -How much stronger must that sentiment be after our -victories at Wörth and Metz! Revenge for those -defeats will continue to be the war cry in Paris even<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[p. 101]</span> -without any annexation, and will spread to influential -circles in the provinces, just as the idea of revenge for -Waterloo was kept alive there for decades. An enemy -who cannot be turned into a friend by considerate -treatment must be rendered thoroughly and permanently -harmless. Not the demolition, but the surrender, -of the eastern fortresses of France can alone serve our -purpose. Whoever desires disarmament must wish to -see France’s neighbours adopt this course, as France is -the sole disturber of European peace, and will remain so -as long as she can.</p> - -<p>It is astonishing how freely this idea of the Chief’s -now flows from one’s pen. What looked like a miracle -ten days ago seems now quite natural and a matter of -course. Perhaps the suggestion as to a German Empire -which is understood to have been mentioned during the -visit of the Crown Prince is also an idea of the same -kind. Blessings follow closely upon each other’s heels. -We may now regard everything as probable.</p> - -<p>At dinner the Minister complained of the excessive -frugality with which the principal officials of the Royal -Household catered for the King’s table. “There is seldom -any champagne, and in the matter of food also short -commons is the rule. When I glance at the number of -cutlets I only take one, as I am afraid that otherwise -somebody else would have to go without.” These remarks, -like similar hints given recently, were intended -for one or other of the gentlemen from the Court, with -a view to their being repeated in the proper quarter. -The conversation then turned on the improper, not to -say disgraceful, manner in which the French soldiers -carried on the war. The Minister said they had killed -one of our officers near Mars la Tour (Finkenstein, I -believe it was) while he was sitting wounded by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[p. 102]</span> -roadside. One of the company maintained that he had -been shot, but another said that an examination of the -body by a doctor showed that the officer had been -stabbed. The Chief remarked that if he had to choose, -he should prefer being stabbed to being shot.</p> - -<p>Count Herbert has been brought in from the Field -Hospital, and a bed has been prepared for him on the -floor in his father’s room. I was talking to him to-day. -His wound is painful, but up to the present it does not -appear to be dangerous. He is to return to Germany -one of these days, where he will remain until he has -recovered.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[p. 103]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="4">IV</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdgcent">COMMERCY—BAR LE DUC—CLERMONT EN ARGONNE</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara">On Tuesday, August 23rd, we were to continue our -journey westwards. Sheridan and his companions were -to accompany us or to follow without delay. Regierungspräsident -von Kühlwetter remained behind -as Prefect; Count Henckel went to Saargemund, and -Count Renard, a huge figure with a beard of corresponding -amplitude, went to Nancy in a similar -capacity. Bamberger, the member of Parliament, -visited us again. I also noticed Herr Stieber on one -occasion in the neighbourhood of the house at the -corner of the Rue Raugraf, and as I was walking about -the town to take a last look at the place before leaving, -I saw the fine-drawn, wrinkled, clean shaven face of -Moltke, whom I had last seen as he entered the Foreign -Office in company with the Minister of War five or six -days before the declaration of hostilities. It seemed to -me that his features wore to-day an expression of -perfect content and satisfaction.</p> - -<p>On my return to the office I was much interested by -a report of the views recently expressed by Thiers as to -the immediate future of France. He regarded it as -certain that in case of victory we should retain Alsace. -The defeat of Napoleon would be followed by the loss<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[p. 104]</span> -of his throne. He would be succeeded for a few months -by a Republic, and then probably by one of the Orleans -family, or perhaps by Leopold of Belgium, who, according -to the source from which our informant obtained -his news (one of Rothschild’s confidants), was known on -the best authority to be extremely ambitious.</p> - -<p>We left Pont à Mousson at 10 o’clock. In the -villages along the road the houses stood side by side as -in a town. Most of them possessed handsome municipal -buildings and schools, and some had seemingly ancient -Gothic churches. On the other side of Gironville the -road passes a steep hill, with a wide prospect of the -plain beneath. Here we left the carriages in order to -ease the load for the horses. The Chancellor who drove -at the head of our party with Abeken also got out and -walked for a quarter of an hour, his big boots reminding -one of pictures of the thirty years’ war. Moltke walked -beside him; the greatest strategist of our days striding -along towards Paris on a country road near the French -frontier in company with the greatest statesman of our -time!</p> - -<p>After we had returned to the carriages we saw a -number of soldiers to the right putting up a telegraph -line. Shortly after 2 o’clock we came to Commercy, a -bright little town with about 6,000 inhabitants. The -white blinds in the better class houses were for the most -part drawn down, as if the occupants did not wish to -see the hated Prussians. The people in blouses were -more curious and less hostile.</p> - -<p>The Chief, together with Abeken and Keudell, took -up their quarters in the château of Count Macore de -Gaucourt in the Rue des Fontaines, where a Prince von -Schwarzburg had lodged, and which was now occupied -by the lady of the house. Her husband was in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[p. 105]</span> -French army and was accordingly with his regiment in -the field. He was a very distinguished gentleman, -being descended from the old Dukes of Lorraine. There -was a pretty flower garden near the house, and behind -it was a large wooded park. I put up not far from the -Minister’s quarters at No. 1 Rue Heurtebise, where I -had a friendly and obliging landlord and an excellent -fourpost bed. I called afterwards on the Chancellor, -whom I found in the garden, and asked if there was -anything for me to do. After thinking for a moment, -he said there was, and an hour later I provided work -both for the Field Post and the new telegraph line.</p> - -<p>Amongst other things I wrote the following paragraph: -“It is now quite clear that the Princes of the -Orleans family consider that their time has come, as -they expect to see the star of the Napoleons sink lower -and lower. In order to emphasise the fact that they -are Frenchmen, they have placed their swords in the -present crisis at the service of their country. The -Orleans lost their throne in great part through their own -sluggishness and their indifference to the development -of neighbouring States. They would now appear -determined to regain it by energy, and to maintain their -position by flattering French chauvinism, and love of -glory and universal dominion. Our work is not yet -done. A decisive victory is probable, but is not yet -certain. The fall of Napoleon seems near at hand, but -it is not yet accomplished. Even should it occur, could -we, in view of the considerations already mentioned, -rest content with it and accept it as the sole result of -our exertions, could we feel confident of having attained -our principal object, namely, to secure peace with France -for many years to come? No one can answer that -question in the affirmative. A peace with the Orleans<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[p. 106]</span> -on the French throne would be still more a mockery -than one with Napoleon, who must already have had -enough of ‘<span lang="fr">la gloire</span>.’ Sooner or later we should be -again challenged by France, who probably would be -then better prepared and would have secured more -powerful allies.”</p> - -<p>Three reserve army corps are to be formed in Germany. -One, and the strongest, near Berlin; one on -the Rhine; and a third at Glogau in Silesia, in consequence -of the equivocal attitude of Austria. That -would be a purely defensive measure. The troops on -the Rhine are to be commanded by the Grand Duke of -Mecklenburg, those near Berlin by General von Canstein, -and those at Glogau by General von Löwenfeld.</p> - -<p>Towards evening the military band played before the -residence of the King, the street urchins holding their -notes for the musicians in the friendliest possible -manner. The King had also stopped at Commercy -during the war against the First Napoleon.</p> - -<p>Counts Waldersee and Lehndorff, and Lieutenant-General -von Alvensleben (from Magdeburg) were -amongst the Chief’s guests at dinner. Alvensleben -told us the story of a so-called “Marl-Major” who was -accustomed to attribute all sorts of occurrences to geognostic -causes. He reasoned somewhat in this style: -“It follows from the character and conduct of the Maid -of Orleans that she could only have been born on a -fertile marly soil, that she was fated to gain a victory in -a limestone country, and to die in a sandstone district.”</p> - -<p>Speaking of the barbarous way in which the French -conducted the war, Alvensleben said that they had also -fired upon a flag of truce at Toul. On the other hand, -an officer who for a joke rode along the glacis had a -friendly chat with the gentlemen on the walls. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[p. 107]</span> -question whether it would be possible to take Paris by -storm in spite of its fortifications was answered in the -affirmative by the military guests. General Alvensleben -said: “A great city of that kind cannot be successfully -defended if it is attacked by a sufficiently numerous -force.” Count Waldersee wished to “see Babel utterly -destroyed,” and brought forward arguments in favour -of that measure with which I was immensely pleased. -The Minister, however, replied: “Yes, that would be a -very good thing, but it is impossible for many reasons. -One of these is that numbers of Germans in Cologne -and Frankfurt have considerable sums invested there.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned upon our conquests -in France and those still to be made. Alvensleben was -in favour of keeping the country up to the Marne. -Bismarck had another idea, which, however, he seemed -to think it impossible to realise. “My ideal would be,” -he said, “a kind of German colony, a neutral State of -eight or ten million inhabitants, free from the conscription -and whose taxes should flow to Germany so -far as they were not required for domestic purposes. -France would thus lose a district from which she draws -her best soldiers, and would be rendered harmless. In -the rest of France no Bourbon, no Orleans, and probably -no Bonaparte, neither Lulu (the Prince Imperial) -nor the fat Jerome, nor the old one. I did not wish -for war in connection with the Luxemburg affair, as I -knew that it would lead to six others. But we must -now put an end to all this. However, we must not -sell the bear’s skin before we have killed it. I confess -I am superstitious in that respect.” “Never mind,” -said Count Waldersee, “our bear is already badly hit.”</p> - -<p>The Chief then again referred to the royal table -and to the frugal manner in which food was doled out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[p. 108]</span> -to the guests, his remarks being probably intended for -Count Lehndorff, who was expected to repeat them. -“We had cutlets there recently, and I could not take -two, as there was only one apiece for us. Rabbit -followed, and I debated with myself whether I should -take a second portion, although I could easily have -managed four. At length hunger overcame my politeness, -and I seized a second piece, though I am sure I -was robbing somebody else.”</p> - -<p>The Chancellor then went on to speak of his sons. -“I hope,” he said, “I shall be able to keep at least -one of my youngsters—I mean Herbert, who is on his -way to Germany. He got to feel himself quite at -home in camp. Formerly he was apt to be haughty, -but as he lay wounded at Pont à Mousson he was -almost more friendly with the common troopers who -visited him than with the officers.”</p> - -<p>At tea we were told that in 1814 the King had his -quarters in the same street where he now lives, next -door to the house he occupies at present. The Chief -seems to have spoken to him to-day about decorating -Bavarian soldiers with the Iron Cross. The Minister -said: “My further plan of campaign for his Majesty -is that part of his escort should be sent on ahead. -The country must be scoured by a company to the -right and left of the road, and the Royal party must -remain together. Pickets must be posted at stated -intervals. The King approved when I told him that -this had been done also in 1814. The Sovereigns did -not drive on that occasion, but went on horseback, and -Russian soldiers, twenty paces apart, lined the whole -route.” Somebody suggested the possibility that -peasants or franctireurs might fire at the King. -“Certainly,” added the Chief, “and what makes it so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[p. 109]</span> -important a point is that the personage in question, if -he is ill or wounded or otherwise out of sorts, has only -to say ‘Go back!’ and we must all of us go back.”</p> - -<p>We left Commercy next day at noon, passing several -military detachments and a number of encampments on -our way. The measures of precaution mentioned by -the Chief had been adopted. We were preceded by a -squadron of uhlans and escorted by the <i lang="de">Stabswache</i>, which -formed a bright picture of many colours, being recruited -from the various cavalry regiments, such as green, red, -and blue hussars, Saxon and Prussian dragoons, &c. -The carriages of the Chancellor’s party followed close -behind those of the King’s. For a long time we did not -come across any villages. Then we passed through St. -Aubin, and soon after came to a milestone by the roadside -with the words “Paris 241 kilometres,” so that we -were only a distance of some thirty-two German miles -from Babel. We afterwards passed a long line of -transport carts belonging to the regiments of King John -of Saxony, the Grand Duke of Hesse, &c., which showed -that we were now in the district occupied by the Crown -Prince’s army.</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards we entered the small town of -Ligny, which was thronged with Bavarian and other -soldiers. We waited for about three-quarters of an -hour in the market-place, which was crowded with all -sorts of conveyances, while the Chief paid a visit to the -Crown Prince. On our starting once more we met -further masses of blue Bavarian infantry, some light -horse collected round their camp fires, then a second -squadron with a herd of cattle guarded by soldiers, and -finally a third larger encampment within a circle of -baggage waggons.</p> - -<p>Bar le Duc, the largest town in which we have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[p. 110]</span> -stayed up to the present, may have a population of some -15,000. The streets and squares presented a lively -picture as we drove through, and we caught glimpses of -curious female faces watching us through the blinds. On -the arrival of the King the Bavarian band played “<span lang="de">Heil -dir im Siegerkranz</span>.” He took up his quarters in the -house occupied by the local branch of the Bank of -France, in the Rue de la Banque. The Chancellor and -his party lodged on the other side of the street, in the -house of a <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Pernay, who had gone off leaving an old -woman in charge.</p> - -<p><abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Lauer, the King’s physician, dined with the -Minister that evening. The Chief was very communicative -as usual, and appeared to be in particularly good -humour. He renewed his complaints as to the “short -commons” at the royal table, evidently intending the -doctor to repeat them to Count Puckler or Perponcher. -During his visit at Ligny he had to take breakfast, -which he said was excellent, with the Crown Prince and -the Princes and chief officers of his suite. He had a -seat near the fire, however, which was not quite to his -taste, and otherwise it was in many ways less comfortable -than in his own quarters. “There were too many -Princes there for an ordinary mortal to be able to -find a place. Amongst them was Frederick the Gentle -(Friedrich der Sachte—Frederick <abbr title="8">VIII.</abbr> of Schleswig-Holstein). -He wore a Bavarian uniform, so that I -hardly knew him at first. He looked somewhat embarrassed -when he recognised me.” We also gathered -from what the Chief said that Count Hatzfeldt was to act -as a kind of Prefect while we remained here, a position -for which probably his thorough knowledge of French -and of the habits of the country had recommended him. -We also heard that the headquarters might remain here<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[p. 111]</span> -for several days,—“as at Capua,” added the Count, -laughing.</p> - -<p>Before tea some articles were despatched to Germany, -including one on the part played by the Saxons at -Gravelotte, which the Chancellor praised repeatedly.</p> - -<p>By way of change I will here again quote from my -diary:—</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, August 25th.</i>—Took a walk early this -morning in the upper, and evidently the older, part of -the town. The shops are almost all open. The people -answer politely when we ask to be shown the way. Not -far from our quarters there is an old stone bridge over -the river which was unquestionably built before Lorraine -and the Duchy of Bar belonged to France. Towards -9 o’clock the Bavarians began their march through -the town, passing in front of the King’s quarters. More -French spectators had collected on both sides of the -street than was quite comfortable for us. For hours -together light horse with green uniforms and red facings, -dark blue cuirassiers, lancers, artillery and infantry, -regiment after regiment marched before the Commander-in-Chief -of the German forces. As they passed the King -the troops cheered lustily, the cavalry swinging their -sabres, and the foot soldiers lifting up their right hands. -The colours were lowered before the Sovereign, the -cavalry trumpets blew an ear-splitting fanfare, while the -infantry bands played stirring airs, one of them giving -the beautiful Hohenfriedberg march. First came General -von Hartmann’s Army Corps, followed by that of Von -der Tann, who afterwards took breakfast with us. Who -could have thought, immediately after the war of 1866, -or even three months ago, of the possibility of such a -scene?</p> - -<p>Wrote several articles for post and others for the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[p. 112]</span> -wire. Our people are pressing forward rapidly. The -vanguards of the German columns are already between -Châlons and Epernay. The formation of three reserve -armies in Germany, which has been already mentioned, -began a few days ago. The neutral Powers raise some -objections to our intended annexation of French territory -for the purpose of securing an advantageous western -frontier, especially England, who up to the present has -shown a disposition to tie our hands. The reports from St. -Petersburg appear to be more favourable, the Tsar being -well disposed to us, although he by no means unreservedly -accepts the proposed measures, while we are assured of -the active sympathy of the Grand Duchess Hélène. We -hold fast to our intention to enforce the cession of territory, -that intention being based upon the necessity of at -length securing South Germany from French attack and -thus rendering it independent of French policy. When -our intentions are made public they will certainly be -energetically endorsed by the national sentiment, which -it will be difficult to oppose.</p> - -<p>It is reported that a variety of revolting acts have -been committed by the bands of franctireurs that are -now being formed. Their uniform is such that they can -hardly be recognised as soldiers, and the badges by -which they are distinguished can be easily laid aside. -One of these young fellows lies in a ditch near a wood, -apparently sunning himself, while a troop of cavalry -rides by. When they have passed he takes a rifle which -has been concealed in a bush, fires at them and runs -into the wood. Knowing the way he again appears a -little further on as a harmless peasant. I am inclined to -think that these are not defenders of their country but -rather assassins who should be strung up without ceremony -whenever they are caught.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[p. 113]</span></p> - -<p>Count Seckendorf, of the Crown Prince’s staff, was -the Chief’s guest at dinner. The Augustenburger -(Frederick <abbr title="8">VIII.</abbr> of Schleswig-Holstein), who has joined -the Bavarians, was spoken of, and not to his advantage.... -(The opinions expressed were practically identical -with those given in a letter which I received a few months -later from a patriotic friend, Herr Noeldeke, who lived -in Kiel at that time as a professor. He wrote: “We -all know that he was not born for heroic deeds. He -cannot help that. If he waits persistently for his -inheritance to be restored to him by some miraculous -means, that is a family trait. But he might at least -have made an effort to appear heroic. Instead of loafing -around with the army he might have led a company or -a battalion of the soldiers whom at one time he was -nearly calling his own,—or for my part he might have -led Bavarians. In all probability <a id="TN1"></a>the result would not have -been very remarkable, but at any rate he would have -shown his good will.”)</p> - -<p>Reference was made to the rumour that the Bavarian -battalions did not appear particularly anxious to advance -at the battle of Wörth (or was it Weissenburg?), and -that Major von Freiberg called upon them to show -themselves equal to “those gallant Prussians.” Seckendorf, -if I am not mistaken, confirmed this report. On -the other hand, he denied that the Crown Prince had -ordered treacherous French peasants to be shot. He -had, on the contrary, acted with great leniency and -forbearance, especially towards unmannerly French -officers.</p> - -<p>Count Bohlen, who is always ready with amusing -anecdotes and flashes of fun, said: “On the 18th von -Breintz’s battery was subjected to such a heavy fire -that in a short time nearly all his horses and most of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[p. 114]</span> -his men lay dead or wounded. As he was mustering -the survivors, the captain remarked, ‘A very fine fight, -is it not?’”</p> - -<p>The Chief said: “Last night I asked the sentry at -the door how he was off for food, and I found that the -man had had nothing to eat for twenty-four hours. I -went to the kitchen and brought him a good chunk of -bread, at which he seemed highly pleased.”</p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt’s appointment as Prefect led to the mention -of other Prefects and Commissaries <i lang="la">in spe</i>. Doubt -having been expressed as to the capacity of some of -them, the Minister remarked: “Our officials in France -may commit a few blunders, but they will be soon forgotten -if the administration in general is conducted -energetically.”</p> - -<p>The conversation having turned on the telegraph -lines which were being so rapidly erected in our rear, -somebody told the following story. The workmen who -found that their poles were stolen and their wires cut, -asked the peasants to keep guard over them during the -night. The latter, however, refused to do this, although -they were offered payment for it. At length they were -promised that the name of each watchman should be -painted upon every pole. This speculation on French -vanity succeeded. After that the fellows in the long -nightcaps kept faithful watch, and no further damage -was done.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, August 26th.</i>—We are to move forward to -Saint Ménehould, where our troops have captured 800 -mobile guards. Early in the day I wrote an article -about the franctireurs, dealing in detail with the false -view which they take of what is permissible in war.</p> - -<p>We moved forward on the 26th, not to Saint -Ménehould, however, which was still unsafe, being<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[p. 115]</span> -infested by franctireurs and mobile guards, but to -Clermont en Argonne, where we arrived at 7 o’clock in -the evening. On our way we passed through several -rather large villages with handsome old churches. For -the last couple of hours military policemen were stationed -along the road at intervals of about 200 paces. The -houses, which were built of grey sandstone and not -whitewashed, stood close together. The whole population -shuffled about in clumsy wooden shoes, and the -features of the men and women, of whom we saw great -numbers standing before the doors, were, so far as I -could observe in a passing glance, almost invariably -ugly. Probably the people thought it necessary to -remove the prettier girls to a place of safety out of the -way of the German birds of prey.</p> - -<p>We met some Bavarian troops with a line of transport -waggons. The troops loudly cheered the King, -and afterwards the Chancellor. Later on we overtook -three regiments of infantry, some hussars, uhlans, and a -Saxon commissariat detachment. Near a village, which -was called Triaucourt if I am not mistaken, we met a -cartful of franctireurs who had been captured by our -people. Most of these young fellows hung their heads, -and one of them was weeping. The Chief stopped and -spoke to them. What he said did not appear to please -them particularly. An officer of higher rank who came -over to the carriage of the Councillors and was treated -to a friendly glass of cognac told us that these fellows -or comrades of theirs had on the previous day -treacherously shot a captain or major of the uhlans, -named Von Fries or Friesen. On being taken prisoners -they had not behaved themselves like soldiers, but had -run away from their escort. The cavalry and rifles, -however, arranged a kind of battue in the vineyards, so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[p. 116]</span> -that some of them were again seized, while others were -shot or cut down. It was evident that the war was -becoming barbarous and inhuman, owing to these -guerilla bands. Our soldiers were prejudiced against -them from the beginning, even apart from the possibility -of their lying treacherously in ambush, as they -looked upon them as busybodies who were interfering -in what was not their business, and as bunglers who did -not understand their work.</p> - -<p>We took up our residence at Clermont in the town -schoolhouse in the main street, the King’s quarters being -over the way. On our arrival, the Grande Rue was full -of carts and carriages, and one saw here and there a -few Saxon rifles. While Abeken and I were visiting the -church we could hear in the stillness the steady tramp -of the troops and their hurrahs as they marched past -the King’s quarters.</p> - -<p>On our return we were told that the Minister had -left word that we were to dine with him in the Hôtel -des Voyageurs. We found a place at the Chief’s table -in a back room of the hotel, which was full of noise and -tobacco smoke. Amongst the guests was an officer with -a long black beard, who wore the Geneva cross on his -arm. This was Prince Pless. He said that the captured -French officers at Pont à Mousson had behaved in an -insolent manner, and had spent the whole night drinking -and playing cards. A general had insisted that he was -entitled to have a separate carriage, and been very -obstreperous when his demand was naturally rejected. -We then went on to speak of the franctireurs and their -odious modes of warfare. The Minister confirmed what -I had already heard from Abeken, namely, that he had -spoken very sharply to the prisoners we had met in the -afternoon. “I told them, ‘<i lang="fr">Vous serez tous pendus,—vous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[p. 117]</span> -n’êtes pas des soldats, vous êtes des assassins!</i>’ On my -saying this one of them began to howl.” We have -already seen that the Chancellor is anything but -unfeeling, and further proof of this will be given -later on.</p> - -<p>In our quarters the Chief’s chamber was on the first -floor, Abeken, I believe, having a back room on the -same landing. The remainder of us were lodged on the -second floor in a dormitory or kind of hall which at -first only contained two chairs and two bedsteads with -mattresses but without quilts. The night was bitterly -cold, and I only with my waterproof to cover me. Still -it was quite endurable, especially when one fell asleep -thinking of the poor soldiers who have to lie outside in -the muddy fields.</p> - -<p>In the morning we were busy rearranging our apartment -to suit our needs. Without depriving it of its -original character we turned it into an office and dining-room. -Theiss’s cleverness conjured up a magnificent -table out of a sawing bench and a baker’s trough, a -barrel, a small box and a door which we took off its -hinges. This work of art served as breakfast and dining -table for the Chancellor of the Confederation and ourselves, -and in the intervals between those meals was -used as a desk by the Councillors and Secretaries, who -neatly committed to paper and reproduced in the form -of despatches, instructions, telegrams, and newspaper -articles the pregnant ideas which the Count thought -out in our midst. The scarcity of chairs was to a -certain extent overcome by requisitioning a bench from -the kitchen, while some of the party contented themselves -with boxes as seats. Wine bottles that had been -emptied by the Minister served as candlesticks—experience -proved that champagne bottles were the fittest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[p. 118]</span> -for this purpose and as a matter of fact good wax -candles burned as brightly in these as in a silver -chandelier. It was more difficult to secure the necessary -supply of water for washing, and sometimes it was -hard even to get enough for drinking purposes, the -soldiers having during the last two days almost drained -the wells for themselves and their horses. Only one of -our party lamented his lot and grumbled at these and -other slight discomforts. The rest of us, including the -far-travelled Abeken, accepted them all with good -humour, as welcome and characteristic features of our -expedition.</p> - -<p>The office of the Minister of War, or rather of the -general staff, was on the ground floor, where Fouriere -and a number of soldiers sat at the desks and rostrums -in the two schoolrooms. The walls were covered with -maps, &c., and with mottoes, one of which was particularly -applicable to the present bad times: “<i lang="fr">Faites-vous -une étude de la patience, et sachez céder par raison.</i>”</p> - -<p>The Chief came in while we were taking our coffee. -He was in a bad temper, and asked why the proclamation -threatening to punish with death a number of -offences by the population against the laws of war had -not been posted up. On his instructions I inquired of -Stieber, who told me that Abeken had handed over the -proclamation to the general staff, and that he (Stieber), -as director of the military police, could only put up such -notices when they came from his Majesty.</p> - -<p>On going to the Chancellor’s room to inform him of -the result of my inquiries, I found that he was little -better off than myself in the way of sleeping accommodation. -He had passed the night on a mattress on the -floor with his revolver by his side, and he was working -at a little table which was hardly large enough to rest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[p. 119]</span> -his two elbows on. The apartment was almost bare of -furniture and there was not a sofa or armchair, &c. -He, who for years past had so largely influenced the -history of the world, and in whose mind all the great -movements of our time were concentrated and being -shaped anew, had hardly a place on which to lay his -head; while stupid Court parasites rested from their -busy idleness in luxurious beds, and even Monsieur -Stieber managed to provide for himself a more comfortable -resting-place than our Master.</p> - -<p>On this occasion I saw a letter that had fallen into -our hands. It came from Paris, and was addressed to a -French officer of high rank. From this communication -it appeared that little hope was entertained of further -successful resistance, and just as little of the maintenance -of the dynasty. The writer did not know what to -expect or desire for the immediate future. The choice -seemed to lie between a Republic without republicans, -and a Monarchy without monarchists. The republicans -were a feeble set and the monarchists were too selfish. -There was great enthusiasm about the army, but nobody -was in a hurry to join it and assist in repelling the -enemy.</p> - -<p>The Chief again said that attention should be -called to the services of the Saxons at Gravelotte. “The -small black fellows should in particular be praised. -Their own newspapers have expressed themselves very -modestly, and yet the Saxons were exceptionally -gallant. Try to get some details of the excellent work -they did on the 18th.”</p> - -<p>They were very busy in the office in the meantime. -Councillors and Secretaries were writing and deciphering -at full pressure, sealing despatches at the lights stuck -into the champagne-bottle-candlesticks, and all around<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[p. 120]</span> -portfolios and documents, waterproofs and shoe-brushes, -torn papers and empty envelopes, were strewn about -in picturesque confusion. Orderlies, couriers and -attendants came and went. Every one was talking at -the same time, and was too occupied to pay the least -attention to his neighbours. Abeken was particularly -active in rushing about between the improvised table -and the messengers, and his voice was louder than ever. -I believe that this morning his ready hand turned out -a fresh document every half hour; at least, one heard -him constantly pushing back his chair and calling a -messenger. In addition to all this noise came the -incessant tramp, tramp, tramp of the soldiers, the -rolling of the drums and the rattle of the carts over -the pavement. In this confusion it was no light task -to collect one’s thoughts and to carry out properly the -instructions received, but with plenty of good will it -could be done.</p> - -<p>After dinner, at which the Chancellor and some of -the Councillors were not present, as they dined with the -King, I took a walk with Willisch to the chapel of St. -Anne on the top of the hill. There we found a number -of our countrymen, soldiers belonging to the Freiberg -Rifle Battalion, at supper under a tree. They have been -engaged in the battle of the 18th. I tried to obtain -some particulars of the fight, but could not get much -more out of them than that they had given it with a -will to the Frenchmen.</p> - -<p>By the side of the chapel a pathway led between a -row of trees to a delightful prospect, whence we could -see at our feet the little town, and beyond it to the -north and east an extensive plain, with stubble fields, -villages, steeples, groups of trees and stretches of wood, -and to the south and west a forest that spread out to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[p. 121]</span> -the horizon, changing from dark green to the misty -blue of the far distance. This plain is intersected by -three roads, one of which goes direct to Varennes. On -this road not far from the town a Bavarian regiment -was stationed, whose camp fires added a picturesque -note to the scene. In the distance to the right was a -wooded hill with the village of Faucoix, while the -small town of Montfaucon was visible further off. The -second road, more towards the east, leads to Verdun. -Still further to the right, not far from a camp of Saxon -troops, was the road to Bar le Duc, on which we -noticed a detachment of soldiers. We caught the glint -of their bayonets in the evening sunshine and heard the -sound of their drums softened by the distance.</p> - -<p>Here we remained a good while gazing at this -pleasing picture, which in the west was glowing with -the light of the setting sun, and watching the shadows -of the mountain spread slowly over the fields until all -was dark. On our way back we again looked in at the -church of St. Didier, in which some Hessians were now -quartered. They lay on straw in the choir and before -the altar, and lit their pipes at the lamps which burned -before the sanctuary—without, however, intending any -disrespect, as they were decent, harmless fellows.</p> - -<p>On Sunday, August 28th, we were greeted with a -dull grey sky and a soft steady rain that reminded one -of the weather experienced by Goethe not far from here -in September, 1792, during the days preceding and following -the artillery engagement at Valmy. At the -Chief’s request I took General Sheridan a copy of the -<cite>Pall Mall Gazette</cite>, and afterwards tried to hunt up -some Saxons who could give me particulars of the -battle of the 18th. At length I found an officer of the -Landwehr, a landed proprietor named Fuchs-Nordhof,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[p. 122]</span> -from Moeckern, near Leipzig. He was not able to add -much to what I knew. The Saxons had fought principally -at Sainte Marie aux Chênes and Saint Privat, and -protected the retreat of the guards, who had fallen into -some disorder. The Freiberg Rifles took the position -held by the French at the point of the bayonet without -firing a shot. The Leipzig Regiment (the 107th) in -particular had lost a great many men and nearly all its -officers. That was all he could tell me, except that he -confirmed the news as to Krausshaar’s death.</p> - -<p>When the Minister got up we were again provided -with plenty of work. Our cause was making excellent -progress. I was in a position to telegraph that the Saxon -cavalry had routed the 12th Chasseurs at Voussières -and Beaumont. I was informed (and was at liberty to -state) that we held to our determination to compel -France to a cession of territory, and that we should -conclude peace on no other conditions.</p> - -<p>The arguments in support of this decision were given -in the following article which was sanctioned by the -Chief:—</p> - -<p>“Since the victories of Mars la Tour and Gravelotte -the German forces have been constantly pressing -forward. The time would, therefore, appear to have -come for considering the conditions on which Germany -can conclude peace with France. In this matter we -must be guided neither by a passion for glory or -conquest, nor by that generosity which is frequently -recommended to us by the foreign press. Our sole -object must be to guarantee the security of South -Germany from fresh attacks on the part of France such -as have been renewed more than a dozen times from the -reign of Louis <abbr title="14">XIV.</abbr> to our own days, and which will be -repeated as often as France feels strong enough. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[p. 123]</span> -enormous sacrifices, in blood and treasure which the -German people have made in this war, together with all -our present victories, would be in vain if the power of -the French were not weakened for attack and the -defensive strength of Germany were not increased. Our -people have a right to demand that this shall be done. -Were we to content ourselves with a change of dynasty -and an indemnity the position of affairs would not be -improved, and there would be nothing to prevent this -war leading to a number of others, especially as the -present defeat would spur on the French to revenge. -France with her comparatively great wealth would soon -forget the indemnity, and any new dynasty would, in -order to fortify its own position, endeavour to secure a -victory over us and thus compensate for the present -misfortunes of the country. Generosity is a highly -respectable virtue, but as a rule in politics it secures no -gratitude. In 1866 we did not take a single inch of -ground from the Austrians, but have we received any -thanks in Vienna for this self-restraint? Do they not -feel a bitter longing for revenge simply because they -have been defeated? Besides the French already bore -us a grudge for our victory at Sadowa, though it was -not won over them but over another foreign Power. -Whether we now generously forego a cession of territory -or not, how will they feel towards us after the victories -of Wörth and Metz, and how will they seek revenge for -their own defeat?</p> - -<p>“The consequences of the other course adopted in -1814 and 1815, when France was treated with great -consideration, prove it to have been bad policy. If at -that time the French had been weakened to the extent -which the interests of general peace required, the present -war would not have been necessary.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[p. 124]</span></p> - -<p>“The danger does not lie in Bonapartism, although -the latter must rely chiefly upon Chauvinist sentiment. -It consists in the incurable arrogance of that portion of -the French people which gives the tone to the whole -country. This trait in the French national character, -which will guide the policy of every dynasty, whatever -name it may bear, and even of a Republic, will constantly -lead to encroachments upon peaceful neighbours. -Our victories, to bear fruit, must lead to an actual -improvement of our frontier defences against this restless -neighbour. Whoever wishes to see the diminution of -military burdens in Europe, or desires such a peace as -would permit thereof, must look not to moral but to -material guarantees as a solid and permanent barrier -against the French lust of conquest; in other words, it -should in future be made as difficult as possible for -France to invade South Germany with a comparatively -small force, and even in peace to compel the South -Germans, through the apprehension of such attack, to be -always reckoning with the French Government. Our -present task is to secure South Germany by providing -it with a defensible frontier. To fulfil that task is to -liberate Germany, that is to complete the work of the -War of Liberation in 1813 and 1814.</p> - -<p>“The least, therefore, that we can demand and that -the German people, and particularly our comrades across -the Main, can accept is, the cession of the French gateways -into Germany, namely Strassburg and Metz. It -would be just as short-sighted to expect any permanent -peace from the mere demolition of these fortresses as to -trust in the possibility of winning over the French by -considerate treatment. Besides, it must not be forgotten -that this territory which we now demand was originally -German and in great part still remains German, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[p. 125]</span> -that its inhabitants will perhaps in time learn to feel -that they belong to one race with ourselves.</p> - -<p>“We may regard a change of dynasty with indifference. -An indemnity will only temporarily weaken -France financially. What we require is increased -security for our frontiers. This is only attainable, however, -by changing the two fortresses that threaten us -into bulwarks for our protection. Strassburg and Metz -must cease to be points of support for French attacks -and be transformed into German defences.</p> - -<p>“Whoever sincerely desires a general European peace -and disarmament, and wants to see the ploughshare -replace the sword, must first wish to see the eastern -neighbours of France secure peace for themselves, as -France is the sole disturber of public tranquillity and -will so remain as long as she has the power.”</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[p. 126]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="5">V</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">WE TURN TOWARDS THE NORTH—THE CHANCELLOR -OF THE CONFEDERATION AT REZONVILLE—THE -BATTLE AND BATTLEFIELD OF BEAUMONT</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara"><i>Sunday, August 28th.</i>—At tea we receive an important -piece of news. We ourselves and the whole -army (with the exception of that portion which -remains behind for the investment of Metz) are to -alter our line of march, and instead of going westwards -in the direction of Châlons, we are to turn -northwards, following the edge of the Argonne forest -towards the Ardennes and the Meuse district. Our -next halt will, it is believed, be at Grand Pré. This -move is made for the purpose of intercepting Marshal -MacMahon, who has collected a large force and is -marching towards Metz for the relief of Bazaine.</p> - -<p>We start at 10 o’clock on the 29th, passing through -several villages and occasionally by handsome châteaux -and parks, a camp of Bavarian soldiers, some line -regiments, rifles, light horse and cuirassiers. In -driving through the small town of Varennes we notice -the house where Louis <abbr title="16">XVI.</abbr> was arrested by the -postman -of Saint Ménehould. It is now occupied by a -firm of scythe manufacturers. The whole place is -full of soldiers, horse and foot, with waggons and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[p. 127]</span> -artillery. After extricating ourselves from this crowd -of vehicles and men, we push rapidly forward through -villages and past other camps, until we reach Grand -Pré. Here the Chancellor takes up his quarters in the -Grande Rue, a little way from the market, the King -lodging at an apothecary’s not far off. The second -section of the King’s suite, including Prince Charles, -Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, and the Hereditary Grand -Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was quartered in the -neighbouring village of Juvin. I am billeted at a -milliner’s opposite the Chief’s quarters. I have a nice -clean room, but my landlady is invisible. We saw a -number of French prisoners in the market-place on -our arrival. I am informed that an encounter with -MacMahon’s army is expected to-morrow morning.</p> - -<p>At Grande Pré the Chief again showed that he -never thought of the possibility of an attempt being -made to assassinate him. He walked about in the -twilight alone and without any constraint, going even -through narrow and lonely streets that offered special -opportunities for attack. I say this from personal experience, -because I followed him with my revolver at -a little distance. It seemed to me possible that an -occasion might arise when I might be of assistance -to him.</p> - -<p>On my hearing next morning that the King and -the Chancellor were going off together in order to be -present at the great battue of the second French army -I thought of a favourite proverb of the Chief’s which -he repeated to me on his return from Rezonville:—“<i lang="de">Wer -sich grün macht, den fressen die Ziegen</i>,” and -plucking up heart I begged him to take me with him. -He answered, “But if we remain there for the night -what will you do?” I replied, “That doesn’t matter,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[p. 128]</span> -Excellency; I shall know how to take care of myself.” -“Well, then, come along!” said he, laughing. The -Minister took a walk in the market-place while I, in -high good humour, fetched my travelling bag, waterproof -and faithful diary. On his return he entered his -carriage and motioned to me to join him, when I took -my place at his side. One must have luck to secure -such a piece of good fortune, and one must also follow -it up.</p> - -<p>We started shortly after 9 o’clock. At first we -retraced our steps along yesterday’s road. Then to -the left through vineyards and past several villages -in a hilly district. We met some parks of artillery -and troops on the march or resting by the way. -About 11 o’clock we reached the little town of -Busancy, where we stopped in the market-place to -wait for the King.</p> - -<p>The Chief was very communicative. He complained -that he was frequently disturbed at his work by persons -talking outside his door, “particularly as some of -the gentlemen have such loud voices. An ordinary -inarticulate noise does not annoy me. I am not put -out by music or the rattle of waggons, but what irritates -me is a conversation in which I can distinguish -the words. I then want to know what it is about, -and so I lose the thread of my own ideas.”</p> - -<p>He then pointed out to me that when officers saluted -our carriage, it was not for me to return the salute. -He himself was not saluted as Minister or Chancellor, -but solely as a general officer, and soldiers might feel -offended if a civilian seemed to think that the salute was -also intended for him.</p> - -<p>He was afraid that nothing in particular would occur -that day, an opinion which was shared by some Prussian<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[p. 129]</span> -artillery officers who were standing by their guns immediately -opposite Busancy, and with whom he spoke. -“It will be just as it was occasionally when I was out -wolf shooting in the Ardennes. After wandering about -for days in the snow, we used to hear that a track had -been discovered, but when we followed it up the wolf -had disappeared. It will be the same with the French -to-day.”</p> - -<p>After expressing a hope that he might meet his second -son, respecting whom he repeatedly inquired of officers -along the route, the Minister added:—“You can see from -his case how little nepotism there is in our army. He -has already served twelve months and has obtained no -promotion, while others are recommended for the rank -of ensign in little more than a month.” I took the -liberty to ask how that was possible. “I do not know,” -he answered. “I have made close inquiries as to whether -he had been guilty of any slight breaches of discipline; -but no, his conduct has been quite satisfactory, -and in the engagement at Mars la Tour he charged as -gallantly on the French square as any of his comrades. -On the return ride he dragged with him out of the fight -two dragoons who had been unhorsed, grasping one -of them in each hand.<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> It is certainly well to avoid -favouritism, but it is bitter to be slighted.”</p> - -<p>A few weeks later both his sons were promoted to -the rank of officers.</p> - -<p>Subsequently, amongst many other things, the Chief -once more gave me an account of his experiences on the -evening of the 18th of August. They had sent their horses -to water, and were standing near a battery which had -opened fire. This was not returned by the French, but,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[p. 130]</span> -he continued, “while we thought their cannon had been -dismounted, they were for the last hour concentrating -their guns and mitrailleuses for a last great effort. -Suddenly they began a fearful fire with shells and -smaller projectiles, filling the whole air with an incessant -crashing and roaring, howling and whistling. We -were cut off from the King, whom Roon had sent to the -rear. I remained by the battery, and thought that if -we had to retire I could jump on to the next ammunition -cart. We expected that this attack would be -supported by French infantry, who might take me -prisoner, even if I were to treat them to a steady revolver -fire. I had six bullets ready for them, and -another half-dozen in reserve. At length our horses -returned, and I started off to join the King. That, -however, was jumping from the frying pan into the fire. -The shells that passed over our heads fell exactly in the -space across which we had to ride. Next morning we -saw the pits which they dug in the ground. It was -therefore necessary for the King to retire still further -to the rear. I told him this after the officers had mentioned -it to me. It was now night. The King said -he was hungry, and wished to have something to eat. -Drink was to be had from one of the sutlers, wine and -bad rum, but there was nothing to eat except dry bread. -At last they managed to hunt up a couple of cutlets in -the village, just enough for the King, but nothing for -his companions, so that I was obliged to look out for -something else. His Majesty wished to sleep in the -carriage between dead horses and severely wounded soldiers. -Later on he found shelter in a miserable hut. -The Chancellor of the Confederation was obliged to seek -cover elsewhere. Leaving the heir of one of our mighty -German potentates (the young Hereditary Grand Duke<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[p. 131]</span> -of Mecklenburg) to keep watch over the carriage and -see that nothing was stolen, I went with Sheridan on a -reconnoitring tour in search of a sleeping place. We -came to a house which was still burning, but that was -too hot for us. I inquired at another, it was full of -wounded; at a third, and got the same answer, and still -a fourth was also full of wounded. Here, however, I -refused to budge. I saw a top window in which there -was no light, and asked who was there. ‘Only wounded -soldiers,’ was the reply. ‘Well, we are just going up to -see,’ I said, and marched upstairs. There we found three -beds with good and tolerably clean straw mattresses, -where we took up our quarters and slept capitally.”</p> - -<p>When the Minister first told this story at Pont à -Mousson, with less detail, his cousin, Count Bismarck-Bohlen, -added: “Yes, you fell asleep immediately, as -also did Sheridan, who rolled himself up in a white linen -sheet—where he found it I cannot imagine—and seemed -to dream of you all night, as I heard him murmur to -himself several times, ‘O dear Count!’” “Yes,” said -the Minister, “and the Hereditary Grand Duke, who -took the affair in very good part, and was altogether a -very pleasant and amiable young gentleman.” “Moreover,” -continued Bohlen, “the best of it was that there -really was no such scarcity of shelter. In the meantime -a fine country house had been discovered that had been -prepared for the reception of Bazaine, with good beds, -excellent wine, and I know not what besides, all first -rate. The Minister of War quartered himself there, and -had a luxurious supper with his staff.”</p> - -<p>On the way to Busancy the Chancellor further said: -“The whole day I had nothing to eat but army bread -and bacon fat. In the evening we got five or six eggs. -The others wanted them cooked, but I like them raw,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[p. 132]</span> -and so I stole a couple, and cracking the shells on the -hilt of my sword, I swallowed them, and felt much -refreshed. Early next morning I had the first warm -food for thirty-six hours. It was only some pea-soup -with bacon, which I got from General Goeben, but I -enjoyed it immensely.”</p> - -<p>The market-place at Busancy, a small country town, -was crowded with officers, hussars, uhlans, couriers, and -all sorts of conveyances. After a while Sheridan and -Forsythe also arrived. At 11.30 the King appeared, and -immediately afterwards we heard the unexpected news -that the French were standing their ground. At about -four kilometres from Busancy we came to a height -beneath which to the left and right a small open valley -lay between us and another height. Suddenly we heard -the muffled sound of a discharge in the distance. -“Artillery fire,” said the Minister. A little further on -I saw two columns of infantry stationed on the other -side of a hollow to the left on a piece of rising ground -bare of trees. They had two guns which were being -fired. It was so far off however that one could hardly -hear the report. The Chief was surprised at the sharpness -of my sight and put on his glasses, which I for the -first time learned were necessary to him when he wished -to see at a distance. Small white clouds like balloons -at a great height floated for three or four seconds above -the hollow and then disappeared in a flash. These were -shrapnel shells. The guns must have been German, -and seemed to throw their shot from a declivity on the -other side of the hollow. Over this hollow was a wood, -in front of which I could observe several dark lines, -perhaps French troops. Still further off was the spur -of a hill, with three or four large trees. This, according -to my map, was the village of Stonn, from which, as I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[p. 133]</span> -afterwards heard, the Emperor Napoleon watched the -fight.</p> - -<p>The firing to the left soon ceased. Bavarian -artillery, blue cuirassiers, and green light horse, passed -us on the road, going at a trot. A little further on, just -as we drove by a small thicket, we heard a rattle, as of -a slow and badly delivered volley. “A <span lang="fr">mitrailleuse</span>,” -said Engel, turning round on the box. Not far off, at a -place where the Bavarian rifles were resting in the ditch -by the road, the Minister got on horseback in order to -ride with the King, who was ahead of us. We ourselves, -after following the road for a time, turned towards the -right across a stubble field. The ground gradually rose -to a low height on which the King stood with the Chief -and a number of Princes, generals and other officers of -high rank. I followed them across the ploughed fields, -and standing a little to one side I watched the battle of -Beaumont till nearly sunset.</p> - -<p>It began to grow dark. The King sat on a chair -near which a straw fire had been lit, as there was a -strong wind. He was following the course of the battle -through a field-glass. The Chancellor, who was similarly -occupied, stood on a ridge, from which Sheridan also -watched the spectacle. It was now possible to catch the -flash of the bursting shells and the flames that were -rising from the burning houses at Beaumont. The -French continued to retire rapidly, and the combatants -disappeared over the crest of the treeless height that -closed the horizon to the left behind the wood over the -burning village. The battle was won.</p> - -<p>It was growing dark when we returned towards -Busancy, and when we reached it it was surrounded by -hundreds of small fires that threw the silhouettes of -men, horses, and baggage waggons into high relief. We<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[p. 134]</span> -got down at the house of a doctor who lived at the end -of the main street, in which the King had also taken up -his quarters. Those of our party who had been left -behind at Grand Pré had arrived before us. I slept -here on a straw mattress on the floor of an almost empty -room, under a coverlet which had been brought from -the hospital in the town by one of our soldiers. That, -however, did not in the least prevent my sleeping the -sleep of the just.</p> - -<p>On Wednesday, August the 31st, between 9 and -10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, the King and the Chancellor drove out to visit -the battle-field of the previous day. I was again permitted -to accompany the Minister. At first we followed -the road taken the day before through Bar de Busancy -and Sommauthe. Between these two villages we passed -some squadrons of Bavarian uhlans, who heartily cheered -the King. Behind Sommauthe, which was full of -wounded, we drove through a beautiful wood that lay -between that village and Beaumont, where we arrived -after 11 o’clock. King William and our Chancellor -then got on horseback and rode to the right over the -fields. I followed in the same direction on foot. The -carriages went on to the town, where they were to wait -for us.</p> - -<p>The Chancellor remarked that the French had not -offered a particularly steady resistance yesterday, or -shown much prudence in their arrangements. “At -Beaumont a battery of heavy artillery surprised them -in their camp in broad daylight. Horses were shot -tethered, many of the dead are in their shirt-sleeves, -and plates are still lying about with boiled potatoes, -pots with half-cooked meat, and so forth.”</p> - -<p>During the drive the Chief came to speak of -“people who have the King’s ear and abuse his good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[p. 135]</span> -nature,” thinking in the first place of the “fat Borck, -the holder of the King’s Privy Purse;” and afterwards -referring to Count Bernstorff, our then Ambassador in -London, who, when he gave up the Foreign Office in -Berlin, “knew very well how to take care of himself.” -In fact, “he was so long weighing the respective -advantages of the two Embassies—London and Paris—that -he delayed entering upon his duties much longer -than was decent or proper.”</p> - -<p>I ventured to ask what sort of a person Von der -Goltz was, as one heard such different opinions about -him, and whether he really was a man of importance -and intellect as was maintained. “Intelligent? yes, in -a certain sense,” replied the Minister; “a quick worker, -well informed, but changeable in his views of men and -things,—to-day in favour of this man or this project, to-morrow -for another and sometimes for the very opposite. -Then he was always in love with the Princesses to -whose Courts he was accredited, first with Amelia of -Greece and then with Eugénie. He believed that what -I had the good fortune to carry through, he, with his -exceptional intelligence, could have also done and even -better. Therefore he was constantly intriguing against -me, although we had been good friends in our youth. -He wrote letters to the King complaining of me and -warning his Majesty against me. That did not help -him much, as the King handed over the letters to me, -and I replied to them by reprimanding him. But in -this respect he was persevering, and continued to write -indefatigably. He was very little liked by his subordinates, -indeed they actually detested him. On my -visit to Paris in 1862 I called upon him to report myself -just as he had settled down to a siesta. I did not -wish to have him disturbed, but his secretaries were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[p. 136]</span> -evidently delighted that he should be obliged to get up, -and one of them immediately went in to announce me. -It would have been so easy for him to secure the good -will and attachment of his people. It is not difficult -for an Ambassador, and I too would do it gladly. But -as a Minister one has no time, one has too many other -things to think of and to do. So I have had to adopt a -more military style.” It will be seen from this description -that Von der Goltz was Arnim’s forerunner and -kindred spirit.</p> - -<p>The Minister went on to speak of Radowitz, saying -he did not feel quite certain whether it was dulness or -treachery on Radowitz’s part that was to blame for the -diplomatic defeat at Olmütz. The army ought to have -been brought into line before Olmütz, but Radowitz had -intrigued against it. “I would leave it an open question -whether he did so as an Austrian ultramontane -Jesuit, or as an impracticable dreamer who thought he -knew everything. Instead of looking to our armaments -he occupied the King with constitutional trifles, of -mediæval follies, questions of etiquette and such like. -On one occasion we heard that Austria had collected -80,000 men in Bohemia, and was buying great numbers -of horses. This was mentioned before the King in -Radowitz’s presence. He suddenly stepped forward, -looking as if he knew much more about it than anybody -else, and said, ‘Austria has 22,493 men and 2,005 -horses in Bohemia,’ and then turned away, conscious -that he had once more impressed the King with a sense -of his importance.”</p> - -<p>The King and the Chancellor first rode to the field -where the heavy artillery had been at work. I followed -them after I had jotted down my notes. This field lies -about 800 to 1000 paces to the right of the road that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[p. 137]</span> -brought us here. In front of it towards the wood at -the bottom of the valley were some fields surrounded -by hedges in which lay about a thousand German dead, -Thuringians of the 31st Regiment. The camp itself -presented a horrible appearance, all blue and red from -the French dead, most of them being killed by the -shells of the 4th Corps, and fearfully disfigured.</p> - -<p>The Chancellor, as he afterwards told me, noticed -among some prisoners in a quarry a priest who was -believed to have fired at our men. “On my charging -him with having done so he denied it. ‘Take care,’ I -said to him, ‘for if it is proved against you, you will -certainly be hanged.’ In the meantime I gave instructions -to remove his cassock.” Near the church the King -saw a wounded musketeer, with whom he shook hands, -although the man was rather tattered and dirty from -the work of the previous day, doubtless to the surprise -of the French officers who were present. The King -asked him what his business was. He replied that -he was a Doctor of Philosophy. “Well, then, you -will have learnt to bear your wounds in a philosophical -spirit,” said the King. “Yes,” answered the -musketeer, “I have already made up my mind to -do so.”</p> - -<p>Near the second village we overtook some common -soldiers, Bavarians, who had broken down on the march, -and were dragging themselves slowly along in the burning -sun. “Hullo, countryman!” called out the Minister -to one of these, “will you have some brandy?” “Why, -certainly;” and so would a second and a third, to judge -from their looks. All three, and a few more, after they -had had a pull at the Minister’s flask and at mine, received -a decent cigar in addition. At the village of -Crehanges, where the princely personages of the second<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[p. 138]</span> -section of the King’s suite were quartered, together with -some gentlemen of the Crown Prince’s retinue, the King -ordered a lunch, to which Bismarck was also invited. -In the meantime I sat on a stone by the roadside and -wrote up my diary, and afterwards assisted the Dutch -Ambulance corps, who had erected a bright green tent -for the wounded in the vicinity of the village. When -the Minister returned he asked me what I had been -doing, which I told him. “I would rather have been -there than in the company I was in,” he said, breathing -deeply, and then quoted the line from Schiller’s <cite>Diver</cite>, -“<i lang="de">Unter Larven die einzige fühlende Brust</i>” (the only -feeling heart amongst all those masks).</p> - -<p>During the rest of the drive the conversation moved -for a considerable time in exalted regions, and the -Chief readily gave me full information in answer to my -inquiries. I regret, however, that I cannot for various -reasons publish all I heard.</p> - -<p>A certain Thuringian Serene Highness appeared to -be particularly objectionable to him. He spoke of his -“stupid self-importance as a Prince, regarding me as -<em>his</em> Chancellor also;” of his empty head, and his trivial -conventional style of talk. “To some extent, however, -that is due to his education, which trained him to the -use of such empty phrases. Goethe is also partly to -blame for that. The Queen has been brought up much -in the same style. One of the chairs in the Palace -would be taken to represent the Burgomaster of Apolda, -who was coming to present his homage. ‘Ah!’ she -was taught to say, ‘very pleased to see you, Herr Burgomaster!’ -(Here the Chancellor leant his head a little -to one side, pouted his lips, and assumed a most condescending -smile.) ‘How are things going on in the -good town of Apolda? In Apolda you make socks and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[p. 139]</span> -tobacco and such things, which do not require much -thinking or feeling.’”</p> - -<p>I ventured to ask how he now stood with the Crown -Prince? “Excellently,” he answered. “We are quite -good friends since he has come to recognise that I am -not on the side of the French, as he had previously -fancied—I do not know on what grounds.” I remarked -that the day before the Crown Prince had looked -very pleased. “Why should he not be pleased?” replied -the Count. “The Heir Apparent of one of the -most powerful kingdoms in the world, and with the best -prospects. He will be reasonable later on and allow his -Ministers to govern more, and not put himself too much -forward, and in general he will get rid of many bad -habits that render old gentlemen of his trade sometimes -rather troublesome. For the rest, he is unaffected and -straightforward; but he does not care to work much, and -is quite happy if he has plenty of money and amusements, -and if the newspapers praise him.”</p> - -<p>I took the liberty to ask further what sort of woman -the Crown Princess was, and whether she had much -influence over her husband. “I think not,” the Count -said; “and as to her intelligence, she is a clever woman; -clever in a womanly way. She is not able to disguise -her feelings, or at least not always. I have cost her -many tears, and she could not conceal how angry she -was with me after the annexations (that is to say of -Schleswig and Hanover). She could hardly bear the -sight of me, but that feeling has now somewhat subsided. -She once asked me to bring her a glass of water, -and as I handed it to her she said to a lady-in-waiting -who sat near and whose name I forget, ‘He has cost -me as many tears as there is water in this glass.’ But -that is all over now.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[p. 140]</span></p> - -<p>Finally we descended from the sphere of the gods to -that of ordinary humanity. After I had referred to the -Coburg-Belgian-English clique, the conversation turned -on the Augustenburger in his Bavarian uniform. “He’s -an idiot,” said the Chancellor. “He might have secured -much better terms. At first I did not want from him -more than the smaller Princes were obliged to concede -in 1866. Thanks, however, to Divine Providence and -the pettifogging wisdom of Samwer, he would agree to -nothing. I remember an interview I had with him in -1864, in the billiard-room near my study, which lasted -until late in the night. I called him ‘Highness’ for the -first time, and was altogether specially polite. When, -however, I mentioned Kiel Harbour, which we wanted, -he remarked that that might mean something like a -square mile, or perhaps even several square miles, a remark -to which I was of course obliged to assent; and -when he also refused to listen to our demands with regard -to the army, I assumed a different tone, and -addressed him merely as ‘Prince.’ Finally, I told him -quite coolly in Low German that we could wring the -necks of the chickens we had hatched. At Ligny he -basely tricked me the other day into shaking hands with -him. I did not know who the Bavarian general was -who held out his hand to me, or I should have gone out -of his way.”</p> - -<p>After an unusually long drive up hill and down dale, -we arrived at 7 o’clock at the small town or market-place -of Vendresse, there the Chancellor put up at the -house of a Widow Baudelot, with the rest of his party, -who had already taken possession of their quarters.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[p. 141]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="6">VI</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdgcent">SEDAN—BISMARCK AND NAPOLEON AT DONCHERY</p> -</div> - -<p class="firstpara">On the 1st of September Moltke’s chase after the -French in the Meuse district was, from all we could -hear, evidently approaching its close. I had the good -fortune to be present at it next day. After rising very -early in order to write up my diary from the hasty -notes taken on the previous day in the carriage and by -the roadside at Chemery, I went to the house of widow -Baudelot. As I entered, a large cavalry detachment, -formed of five Prussian hussar regiments, green, brown, -black and red, rode past under the Chief’s window. -These were to accompany the King to a point near -Sedan, whence he could witness the catastrophe which -was now confidently expected. When the carriage -came and the Chancellor appeared he looked about -him. Seeing me he said, “Can you decipher, doctor?” -I answered, “Yes,” and he added, “Then get a cipher -and come along.” I did not wait to be asked twice. We -started soon afterwards, Count Bismarck-Bohlen this -time occupying the seat next to the Minister.</p> - -<p>We first passed through Chemery and Chehery, -halting in a stubble field near a third village which lay -in a hollow to the left of the road at foot of a bare -hillock. Here the King, with his suite of Princes,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[p. 142]</span> -generals, and courtiers, got on horseback, as did also -the Chief, and the whole party moved towards the -crest of the height. The distant roar of the cannon -announced that the battle was in full progress. It was -a bright sunny day, with a cloudless sky.</p> - -<p>Leaving Engel in charge of the carriage I after -a while followed the horsemen, whom I found in a -ploughed field from which one had an extensive view of -the district. Beneath was a deep wide valley, mostly -green, with patches of wood on the heights that surrounded -it. The blue stream of the Meuse flowed past -a town of moderate size, the fortress of Sedan. On the -crest of the hill next us, at about the distance of a rifle -shot, is a wood, and there are also some trees to the left. -To the right in the foreground, which sloped obliquely, -in a series of steps as it were, towards the bottom of -the valley, was stationed a Bavarian battery, which kept -up a sharp fire at and over the town. Behind the -battery were dark columns of infantry and cavalry. -Still farther to the right, from a hollow, rose a thick -column of smoke. It comes, we are told, from the -burning village of Bazeilles. We are only about an -English mile in a beeline from Sedan, and in the clear -atmosphere one can easily distinguish the houses and -churches. In the distance, to the left and right, three -or four villages, and beyond them all towards the -horizon, a range of hills covered throughout with what -appears to be a pine forest, serves as a frame for the -whole picture. It is the Ardennes, on the Belgian -frontier.</p> - -<p>The main positions of the French appear to be on -the hillocks immediately beyond the fortress, and it -looks as if our troops intended to surround them there. -For the moment we can only see their advance on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[p. 143]</span> -right, as the lines of our artillery, with the exception -of the Bavarians, who are posted under us, are lost -behind the heights as they slowly move forward. -Gradually the smoke of the guns is seen beyond the -rising ground already mentioned, with the defile in the -middle. The corps that are advancing in half circle to -enclose the enemy are steadily endeavouring to complete -the circle. To the left all is still. At 11 o’clock -a dark grey pillar of smoke with yellow edges rises -from the fortress, which has hardly taken any part in -the firing. The French troops beyond Sedan deliver -an energetic fire, and at the same time, over the wood -in the defile, rise numbers of small white clouds from -the shells—whether French or German we cannot say. -Sometimes, also, we hear the rattle of the mitrailleuse.</p> - -<p>There was a brilliant assembly upon the hill. The -King, Bismarck, Moltke, Roon, a number of Princes, -Prince Charles, their Highnesses of Weimar and Coburg, -the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, generals, -aides-de-camp, Court officials, Count Hatzfeldt, who -disappeared after a while, Kutusow, the Russian, and -Colonel Walker, the English Military Plenipotentiary, -together with General Sheridan and his aide-de-camp, -all in uniform, and all looking through field-glasses. -The King stood, while others sat on a ridge at the edge -of the field, as did the Chancellor also at times. I hear -that the King sent word round that it was better not -to gather into large groups, as the French in the -fortress might in that case fire at us.</p> - -<p>After 11 o’clock our line of attack advanced further -on the right bank of the Meuse towards the main -position of the French, who were thus more closely -invested. In my eagerness I began to express my -views to Count Puckler, probably somewhat louder<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[p. 144]</span> -than was necessary or quite fitting in the circumstances, -and so attracted the attention of the Chief, who has -sharp ears. He turned round and beckoned to me to -come to him. “If you have strategic ideas to communicate -to the Count it would be well if you managed -to do so somewhat more quietly, doctor, as otherwise -the King might ask who is speaking, and I should be -obliged to present you to him.” Shortly afterwards he -received telegrams, six of which he gave me to decipher, -so that for the time I had to resign my part as a -spectator.</p> - -<p>On returning to the carriage I found in Count -Hatzfeldt a companion who had also been obliged to -combine business with pleasure. The Chief had instructed -him to copy out a French letter of four pages -which had been intercepted by our troops. I mounted -the box and set to work deciphering, while the battle -roared like half-a-dozen thunderstorms on the other -side of the height. In my eagerness to get done I did -not feel the scorching midday sun, which raised blisters -on one of my ears.</p> - -<p>It was now 1 o’clock. By this time our line of fire -encircled the greater part of the enemy’s position on -the heights beyond the town. Clouds of smoke rose in -a wide arch, while the well-known small puff-balls of -the shrapnels appeared for an instant and burst in the -air. Only to the left there yet remained a space where -all was still. The Chancellor now sat on a chair, studying -a document of several pages. I asked if he would -like to have something to eat or drink, as we had come -provided. He declined, however, saying, “I should be -very glad, but the King has also had nothing.”</p> - -<p>The opposing forces on the other side of the river -must be very near each other, as we hear oftener than<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[p. 145]</span> -before the hateful rattle of the mitrailleuse. Its bark, -however, we are told, is worse than its bite. Between -2 and 3 o’clock, according to my watch, the King passed -near where I stood. After looking for a while through -his glass towards the suburbs of Sedan, he said to those -who accompanied him, “There, to the left, they are -pushing forward large masses of troops; I think it is a -sortie.” It was, as a matter of fact, an advance of -some columns of infantry, which, however, soon retired, -probably because they found that although this place -was quiet it was by no means open. Shortly afterwards, -with the assistance of the field-glass, one could see the -French cavalry deliver several attacks on the crest of -the hill to the left of the wood near the defile, which -were repelled by volleys from our side. After these -charges it could be seen, even with the naked eye, that -the ground was covered with white objects, horses or -soldiers’ cloaks. Soon afterwards the artillery fire grew -weaker at all points, and there was a general retreat -of the French towards the town and its immediate -vicinity. As already mentioned, they had for some -time past been closed in on the left, where the Würtemberg -troops had a couple of batteries not far from -our hill, and where, as we were informed, the 5th and -11th Army Corps had cut off all escape, with the exception -of a small gap towards the Belgian frontier. After -half-past 4 all their guns were silent, and somewhat -later ours also ceased firing.</p> - -<p>Once again the scene becomes more animated. Suddenly -bluish white clouds rise first in one and then in a -second part of the town, showing that it is burning in two -places. Bazeilles also is still in flames, and is sending -up a pillar of dense grey, yellow vapour into the clear -evening air. The soft radiance of the declining sun is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[p. 146]</span> -spreading more and more over the valley at our feet, -like burnished gold. The hillocks of the battle-field, the -ravine in the midst, the villages, the houses, the towers -of the fortress, the suburb of Torcy, and the broken -bridge in the distance to the left, stand out in clear -relief, from moment to moment more distinct as if seen -through stronger and stronger glasses.</p> - -<p>Towards 5 o’clock General Hindersin speaks to the -King, and I fancy I catch the words, “Bombard the -town,” and a “heap of ruins.” A quarter of an hour -later a Bavarian officer gallops up the height towards us. -General von Bothmer sends word to the King that -General Mailinger, who is stationed at Torcy with the -chasseurs, reports that the French desire to capitulate, -and that their unconditional surrender has been demanded. -The King replied, “No one can negotiate this -matter except myself. Tell the general that the bearer -of the flag of truce must come to me.”</p> - -<p>The Bavarian rides back into the valley. The King -then speaks to Bismarck, and together they join the -Crown Prince (who had arrived a little before), Moltke -and Roon. Their Highnesses of Weimar and Coburg -are also with them, standing a little to one side. After -a while a Prussian aide-de-camp appears, and reports -that our losses, so far as they can be ascertained up to -the present, are not great—those of the Guards being -moderate, of the Saxons somewhat more, while the remaining -corps engaged suffered less. Only a small -proportion of the French have escaped into the woods -in the direction of the Belgian frontier, where search is -now being made for them. All the rest have been driven -towards Sedan.</p> - -<p>“And the Emperor?” questioned the King.</p> - -<p>“We do not know,” answered the officer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[p. 147]</span></p> - -<p>Towards 6 o’clock, however, another aide-de-camp -appeared, and reported that the Emperor was in the -town, and would immediately send out a <i lang="fr">parlementaire</i>. -“That is a grand success!” said the King, turning to -the company. “I thank thee (he added to the Crown -Prince) for thy share in it.” With these words he gave -his hand to his son, and the latter kissed it. He -then held out his hand to Moltke, who also kissed it. -Finally he likewise shook hands with the Chancellor, -and spoke to him alone for some time. This seemed to -excite the displeasure of some of their Highnesses.</p> - -<p>Towards half-past 6, after a detachment of cuirassiers -had been posted near the King as a guard of -honour, the French General Reille, Napoleon’s <i lang="fr">parlementaire</i>, -rode slowly up the hill. He dismounted at a -distance of some ten paces from the King, and after -approaching his Majesty took off his cap and handed -over a letter of large size with a red seal. The general -is an elderly gentleman of medium height and slender -figure, in an unbuttoned black tunic with epaulettes and -shoulder straps, black vest, red trousers and polished -riding boots. He has no sword, but carries a walking -stick in his hand. All the company move away from -the King, who opens and reads the letter, afterwards -communicating the contents, which are now generally -known, to Bismarck, Moltke, the Crown Prince and the -other personages. Reille stands a little further off, at -first alone, and later in conversation with some Prussian -generals. The Crown Prince, Moltke and his Highness -of Coburg also speak to him while the King takes -counsel with the Chancellor, who then commissions -Hatzfeldt to prepare a draft of the answer to the imperial -letter. Hatzfeldt brings it in a few minutes and the -King copies it, sitting on one chair, while the seat of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[p. 148]</span> -another, held by Major von Alten, who kneels before -him, serves as a desk.</p> - -<p>Shortly before 7 o’clock the French general -rides back towards Sedan in the twilight, accompanied -by an officer and a uhlan trumpeter carrying a white -flag. The town is now in flames in three places, and -the lurid columns of smoke that rise from Bazeilles -shows it to be still burning. The tragedy of Sedan is -over, and night lets down the curtain.</p> - -<p>There might be an epilogue on the following day, -but for the present every one returned home. The King -went back to Vendresse, the Chief, Count Bismarck-Bohlen -and I drove to the little town of Donchery, -where it was quite dark when we arrived. We put up -at the house of a <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Jeanjot. The town was full of -Würtemberg soldiers, who were camped in the market-place. -Our reason for coming here was that an -arrangement had been made according to which the -Chancellor and Moltke were this evening to meet the -French plenipotentiary to try to settle the conditions of -the capitulation of the four French army corps now -confined in Sedan.</p> - -<p>I slept here in an alcove near the back room on the -first floor, with only the wall between me and the -Minister, who had the large front room. Towards 6 -o’clock in the morning I was awakened by hasty footsteps, -and heard Engel say: “Excellency, Excellency, -there is a French general at the door. I cannot -understand what he wants.” The Minister would -appear to have got up hurriedly and spoken a few -words to the French officer, who turned out to be -General Reille. The consequence was that he dressed -immediately, and without waiting either for breakfast -or to have his clothes brushed, mounted his horse and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[p. 149]</span> -rode rapidly off. I rushed to his window to see in what -direction he went. I saw him trot off towards the -market-place. In the room everything was lying about -in disorder. On the floor lay the “<cite lang="de">Täglich Losungen -und Lehrtexte der Brüdergemeinde für 1870</cite>” (Daily -Watchwords and Texts of the Moravian Brethren for -1870), and on the toilette stand was another manual of -devotion, “<cite lang="de">Die tägliche Erquickung für gläubige -Christen</cite>” (Daily Spiritual Refreshment for Believing -Christians), which Engel told me the Chancellor was -accustomed to read at night.</p> - -<p>I now hastily dressed myself also, and after I had -informed them downstairs that the Chief had gone off -to Sedan to meet the Emperor Napoleon, who had left -the fortress, I followed him as fast as I could. Some -800 paces from the bridge across the Meuse at Donchery -to the right of the road, planted with poplars, stands a -single house, then the residence of a Belgian weaver. -It is painted yellow, is but one story high, and has four -windows on the front. There are white shutters to the -windows on the ground floor; the venetian blinds on -those of the first floor are also painted white, and it has -a slate roof, like most of the houses at Donchery. Near -it to the left is a potato field, now full of white -blossoms, while to the right, across the path that leads -to the house, stand some bushes. I see here that the -Chancellor has already met the Emperor. In front of -the house are six French officers of high rank, of whom -five have caps with gold trimmings, while that worn by -the sixth is black. What appears to be a hackney -coach with four seats is waiting on the road. Bismarck -and his cousin, Count Bohlen, are standing opposite the -Frenchmen, while a little way off is Leverström, as -well as two hussars, one brown and one black. At 8<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[p. 150]</span> -o’clock Moltke arrives with a few officers of the general -staff, but leaves again after a short stay. Soon afterwards -a short, thick-set man, in a red cap braided with -gold lace, and wearing red trousers and a hooded cape -lined with red, steps from behind the house and speaks -at first to the French officers, some of whom are sitting -under the hedge by the potato field. He has white kid -gloves, and smokes a cigarette. It is the Emperor. At -the short distance at which I stand from him I can -clearly distinguish his features. There is something -soft and dreamy in the look of his light grey eyes, -which resemble those of people who have lived fast. -His cap is set a little to the right, in which direction the -head is also bent. The short legs do not seem in -proportion with the long upper part of the body. His -whole appearance has something unmilitary about it. -The man is too soft, I am inclined to think too pulpy, -for the uniform he wears. One could even fancy that -he is capable of becoming sentimental at times. Those -ideas, which are mere impressions, force themselves -upon one all the more when one glances at the tall, -well-set figure of our Chancellor. Napoleon seems -fatigued, but not very much depressed. Nor does he -look so old as I had expected. He might pass for a -tolerably well-preserved man of fifty. After a while he -goes over to the Chief, and speaks to him for about -three minutes, and then—still smoking and with his -hands behind his back—walks up and down by the -potato garden. A further short conversation follows -between the Chancellor and the Emperor, begun by -Bismarck, after which Napoleon once more converses -with his French suite. About a quarter to 9 o’clock -Bismarck and his cousin leave, going in the direction -of Donchery, whither I follow them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[p. 151]</span></p> - -<p>The Minister repeatedly related the occurrences of -this morning and the preceding night. In the following -paragraphs I unite all these various statements into -a connected whole. The sense of what the Chancellor -said is faithfully given throughout, and his own words -are in great part reproduced.</p> - -<p>“After the battle of the 1st of September, Moltke -and I went to Donchery, about five kilometres from -Sedan, for the purpose of carrying on the negotiations -with the French. We spent the night there, the King -and his suite returning to Vendresse. The negotiations -lasted until midnight, without, however, leading to an -understanding. In addition to Moltke and myself, -Blumenthal and three or four other officers of the -general staff were present. General Wimpffen was the -French spokesman. Moltke’s demand was very short. -The whole French army must surrender as prisoners of -war. Wimpffen considered that too hard. The army -had deserved better treatment by the gallantry it had -shown in action. We ought to be content to let them -go on condition that they took no further part in the -war, and removed to some district in France to be -fixed upon by us, or to Algiers. Moltke quietly maintained -his demand. Wimpffen dwelt upon his own -unfortunate position. He had joined the troops two -days before on his return from Africa, and only took -over the command when MacMahon was wounded -towards the close of the battle—and yet he must now -put his signature to such a capitulation. He would -rather try to hold the fortress or venture a sortie. -Moltke regretted that it was impossible for him to -make allowance for the position of the general, the -hardship of which he appreciated. He recognised the -gallantry of the French troops, but they could not possibly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[p. 152]</span> -hold Sedan, and a sortie was out of the question. He was -prepared to allow one of the general’s officers to inspect -our positions, in order that he might convince himself -of that fact. Wimpffen then urged that from a political -standpoint it was advisable to grant better terms. We -must desire a speedy and permanent peace, and we -could now secure it if we acted generously. A considerate -treatment of the army would put both the -soldiers and the whole people under an obligation of -gratitude, and would inspire friendly feelings towards -us. An opposite course would lead to endless war. I -intervened at this point, as my trade came into question -here. I told Wimpffen it was possible to trust to the -gratitude of a Prince but not to that of a people, -and least of all to that of the French. They had no -permanent institutions, they were constantly changing -governments and dynasties, which were not bound by -what their predecessors had undertaken. If the -Emperor’s throne were secure it would be possible to -count upon his gratitude in return for more favourable -conditions. As matters stood it would be foolish not -to avail themselves to the full of the advantages of our -success. The French were an envious, jealous people. -They were angry with us for our victory at Sadowa, -and could not forgive us for it, although it had not -injured them. How then could any generosity on our -part prevent them from bearing us a grudge for Sedan? -Wimpffen could not agree to that. The French had -changed latterly, and had learnt under the Empire to -think more of peaceful interests than of the glory of -war. They were ready to proclaim the brotherhood of -nations, and so on. It was not difficult to prove the -contrary, and to show that the acceptance of his -proposals would lead rather to a prolongation of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[p. 153]</span> -war, than to its termination. I finished by saying that -we must maintain our conditions. Castelneau then -spoke, explaining on behalf of the Emperor that the -latter had only given up his sword on the previous day -in the hope of an honourable capitulation. I asked, -‘Whose sword was that? The Emperor’s, or that of -France?’ He replied, ‘Merely the Emperor’s.’ ‘Well -then,’ interjected Moltke, sharp as lightning—a gleam -of satisfaction overspreading his hawk-like features—‘There -can be no further question of any other conditions.’ -‘Very well,’ declared Wimpffen, ‘in that case -we shall renew the fight to-morrow.’ ‘I will see that -our fire commences at 4 o’clock,’ said Moltke, on which -the French expressed a wish to retire. I induced them, -however, to remain a little longer and to consider the -matter once more. The result was that they ultimately -begged for an extension of the armistice, in order to -consult with their people in Sedan. At first Moltke did -not wish to agree to this, but finally consented on my -pointing out to him that it could do no harm.</p> - -<p id="napoleon">“Towards 6 o’clock on the morning of the 2nd of -September, General Reille appeared before my lodging -at Donchery, and said the Emperor wished to speak to -me. I dressed immediately and got on horseback, -dirty, unwashed, and dusty as I was, to ride to Sedan, -where I expected to see the Emperor. I met him, -however, on the road near Fresnois, three kilometres -from Donchery. He sat with three officers in a two-horse -carriage, three others accompanying him on horseback. -Of these officers I only knew Reille, Castelneau, -Moscowa, and Vaubert. I had my revolver buckled -round my waist, and as I found myself alone in the -presence of the six officers I may have glanced at it -involuntarily. I may perhaps even have instinctively<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[p. 154]</span> -laid my hand upon it. Napoleon probably noticed that, -as his face turned an ashy grey. Possibly he thought -that history might repeat itself—I think it was a Prince -de Condé who was murdered while a prisoner after a -battle.<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> - -<p>“I saluted in military fashion. The Emperor took -off his cap, the officers following his example, whereupon -I also removed mine, although it was contrary to -the regulations to do so. He said, ‘<span lang="fr">Couvrez-vous, -donc</span>.’ I treated him exactly as if we were at Saint -Cloud, and asked him what his commands were. He -wished to know whether he could speak to the King. -I said that was impossible, as his Majesty’s quarters -were about two German miles away. I did not wish -him to see the King before we had come to an understanding -as to the capitulation. He then asked where -he could wait, which indicated that he could not return -to Sedan, as he had either experienced or apprehended -some unpleasantness there. The town was full of -drunken soldiers, which was a great hardship for the -inhabitants. I offered him my quarters at Donchery, -which I was prepared to leave immediately. He -accepted the offer, but when we had come within a few -hundred yards of the town he asked whether he could -not stay in a house which he saw by the road. I sent -my cousin, who had followed me, to view the house. -On his report I told the Emperor that it was a very -poor place. He replied that it did not matter. After -he had gone over to the house and come back again, -having probably been unable to find the stairs which -were at the back, I accompanied him to the first floor,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[p. 155]</span> -where we entered a small room with one window. It -was the best in the house, but its only furniture was a -deal table and two rush-bottomed chairs.</p> - -<p>“Here I had a conversation with him which lasted -for nearly three-quarters of an hour. He complained -first of this fatal war, which he had not desired. He -was forced into it by the pressure of public opinion. -I replied that in Germany nobody had wished for war, -and the King least of all. We had regarded the -Spanish question as a matter concerning Spain and -not Germany, and we were justified in expecting from -the good relations between the princely house of -Hohenzollern and himself that an understanding could -be easily come to with the Hereditary Prince. We -then went on to speak of the present situation. He -wished above all to obtain more favourable terms of -capitulation. I explained that I could not go into that -question, as it was a purely military one, with which -Moltke would have to deal. On the other hand it was -open to us to discuss an eventual peace. He replied -that he was a prisoner, and therefore not in a position -to decide. On my asking him whom he regarded as -competent to treat, he referred me to the Government -in Paris. I observed that the situation had therefore -not changed since yesterday, and that we must maintain -our demand respecting the army in Sedan, as -a guarantee that we should not lose the benefits -of our victory. Moltke, to whom I had sent word, -and who had arrived in the meantime, was of the -same opinion, and went to the King in order to -tell him so.</p> - -<p>“Standing before the house the Emperor praised -our army and the manner in which it had been led. -On my acknowledging that the French had also fought<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[p. 156]</span> -well, he came back to the conditions of the capitulation, -and asked whether we could not allow the troops shut -up in Sedan to cross the Belgian frontier, there to be -disarmed and held as prisoners. I tried again to make -it clear to him that that was a question for the military -authorities, and could not be settled without the -concurrence of Moltke. Besides, he himself had -just declared that as a prisoner he was not able to -exercise his authority, and that accordingly negotiations -respecting questions of that kind should -be carried on with the principal officer in command -at Sedan.</p> - -<p>“In the meantime a search had been made for a -better lodging for the Emperor, and the officers of the -general staff found that the little château of Bellevue -near Fresnois, where I first met him, was suitable for -his reception, and was not yet requisitioned for the -wounded. I advised him to remove there, as it would -be more comfortable than the weaver’s house, and that -possibly he wanted rest. We would let the King know -that he was there. He agreed to this, and I rode back -to Donchery to change my clothes. I then accompanied -him to Bellevue with a squadron of the 1st -Cuirassier Regiment as a guard of honour. The Emperor -wished the King to be present at the negotiations which -began here—doubtless counting on his soft-heartedness -and good nature—but he also desired me to take part -in them. I had however decided that the soldiers, who -were made of sterner stuff, should settle the affair by -themselves; and so I whispered to an officer as I went -up the stairs to call me in five minutes and say that the -King wanted to speak to me. This was accordingly -done. Napoleon was informed that he could only see -the King after the conclusion of the capitulation. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[p. 157]</span> -matter was therefore arranged between Moltke and -Wimpffen, much on the lines that were laid down the -evening before. Then the two monarchs met. As the -Emperor came out after the interview his eyes were -filled with heavy tears. In speaking to me he was -much less affected, and was perfectly dignified.”</p> - -<p>We had no detailed particulars of these events on -the forenoon of the 2nd of September; and from the -moment when the Chief, in a fresh uniform and -cuirassier’s helmet, rode off from Donchery until late -at night, we only heard vague rumours of what was -going on. About 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> a detachment of Würtemberg -artillery drove past our house at a trot. In every -direction clouds of dust rose from the hoofs of the -cavalry, while the bayonets of long columns of infantry -glistened in the sun. The road at our feet was filled -with a procession of waggons loaded with baggage and -forage. Presently we met Lieutenant von Czernicki, -who wanted to go into Sedan, and invited us to drive -with him in his little carriage. We had accompanied -him nearly as far as Fresnois when, at about 1 o’clock, -we met the King with a large suite on horseback, including -the Chancellor, coming in the opposite direction. -As it was probable that the Chief was going to Donchery -we got out and followed him. The party, -however, which included Hatzfeldt and Abeken, rode -through the town, and we heard that they were viewing -the battle-field. As we did not know how long the -Minister would remain away we did not venture to -leave Donchery.</p> - -<p>About 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> some thousands of prisoners -marched through the town on their way to Germany. -Most of them were on foot, but some of them were in -carts. They included about sixty to seventy officers,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[p. 158]</span> -and a general who was on horseback. Amongst the -prisoners were cuirassiers in white helmets, blue -hussars with white facings, and infantrymen of the -22nd, 52nd and 58th regiments. They were escorted -by Würtemberg infantry. At 2 o’clock followed a -second batch of about 2000 prisoners, amongst whom -were negroes in Arab costume—tall, broad-shouldered -fellows, with savage, ape-like features, and some old -soldiers wearing the Crimean and Mexican medals.</p> - -<p>A little after 3 o’clock two French guns, with -their ammunition waggons and still drawn by French -horses, passed through our street. The words “<span lang="de">5, Jäger, -Görlitz</span>” were written in chalk on one of the guns. -Shortly afterwards a fire broke out in one of the streets -to the left of our quarters. Würtemberg soldiers had -opened a cask of brandy and had imprudently made a -fire near it.</p> - -<p>Considerable distress prevailed in the town, and -even our landlord (he and his wife were good souls) -suffered from a scarcity of bread. The place was overcrowded -with soldiers, who were quartered on the inhabitants, -and with the wounded who were sometimes -put up in stables. Some of the people attached to the -Court tried to secure our house for the Hereditary Grand -Duke of Weimar, but we held out successfully against -them. Then an officer wanted to quarter a Prince of -Mecklenburg upon us, but we also sent him packing, -telling him it was out of the question, as the Chancellor -of the Confederation lodged there. After a short -absence, however, I found that the Weimar gentlemen -had forced themselves into the house. We had reason -to be thankful that they did not turn our Chief out of -his bed.</p> - -<p>The Minister only returned after 11 o’clock and I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[p. 159]</span> -had supper with him, the party also including the -Hereditary Grand Duke of Weimar, in the uniform of -the Light Blue Hussars, and Count Solms-Sonnenwalde, -formerly attached to the Embassy in Paris, and now -properly speaking a member of our staff, although we -had seen very little of him recently.</p> - -<p>The Chancellor gave us very full particulars of his -ride over the battle-field. He had been nearly twelve -hours in the saddle, with short intervals. They had -been over the whole field, and were received with great -enthusiasm in all the camps and bivouacs. It was said -that during the battle our troops had taken over 25,000 -prisoners, while 40,000 who were in Sedan surrendered -under the capitulation, which was concluded about noon.</p> - -<p>The Minister told us that Napoleon was to leave -for Germany, that is to say for Wilhelmshöhe, on the -following morning. “The question is,” said the Chief, -“whether he is to go by way of Stenay and Bar le Duc -or through Belgium.” “In Belgium he would no -longer be a prisoner,” said Solms. “Well, that would -not matter,” replied the Chief, “and it would not even -do any harm if he took another direction. I was in -favour of his going through Belgium, and he seemed also -inclined to take that route. If he failed to keep his -word it would not injure us. But it would be necessary -to communicate beforehand with Brussels, and we -could not have an answer in less than two days.”</p> - -<p>About 8 o’clock on the following morning, just as I -was at breakfast, we heard a noise which sounded like -heavy firing. It was only the horses in a neighbouring -stable stamping on the wooden floor, probably out of -temper that they also should have been put on short -commons, as the drivers had only been able to give -them half measures of oats. As a matter of fact there<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[p. 160]</span> -was a general scarcity. I heard subsequently that -Hatzfeldt had been commissioned by the Chief to go to -Brussels. Shortly afterwards the Chancellor called me -to his bedside. He had received 500 cigars, and wished -me to divide them among the wounded. I accordingly -betook myself to the barracks, which had been transformed -into a hospital, and to the bedrooms, barns and -stables in the street behind our house. At first I only -wished to divide my stock amongst the Prussians; but -the Frenchmen who were sitting by cast such longing -glances at them, and their German neighbours on the -straw pleaded so warmly on their behalf—“We can’t -let them look on while we are smoking, they too have -shared everything with us”—that I regarded it as no -robbery to give them some too. They all complained -of hunger, and asked how long they were going to be -kept there. Later on they were supplied with soup, -bread and sausages, and some of those in the barns and -stables were even treated to bouillon and chocolate by -a Bavarian volunteer hospital attendant.</p> - -<p>The morning was cold, dull and rainy. The masses -of Prussian and Würtemberg troops who marched -through the town seemed however in the best of spirits. -They sang to the music of their bands. In all probability -the feelings of the prisoners who sat in the long -line of carts that passed in the opposite direction at the -same time were more in harmony with the disagreeable -weather and the clouded sky. About 10 o’clock, as I -waded in the drizzling rain through the deep mud of -the market-place in fulfilment of my mission to the -wounded, I met a long procession of conveyances -coming from the Meuse bridge under the escort of the -black death’s-head hussars. Most of them were covered -coaches, the remainder being baggage and commissariat<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[p. 161]</span> -carts. They were followed by a number of saddle -horses. In a closed coupé immediately behind the -hussars sat the “Prisoner of Sedan,” the Emperor -Napoleon, on his way to Wilhelmshöhe through -Belgium. General Castelneau had a seat in his carriage. -He was followed in an open waggonette by the infantry -general, Adjutant-General von Boyen, who had been -selected by the King as the Emperor’s travelling -companion, and by Prince Lynar and some of the -officers who had been present at Napoleon’s meeting -with the Chancellor on the previous day. “Boyen is -capitally suited for that mission,” said the Chief to us -the night before; “he can be extremely rude in the -most polite way.” The Minister was probably thinking -of the possibility that some of the officers in -the <i lang="fr">entourage</i> of the august prisoner might take -liberties.</p> - -<p>We learned afterwards that an indirect route -through Donchery had been taken, as the Emperor was -particularly anxious not to pass through Sedan. The -hussars went as far as the frontier near Bouillon, the -nearest Belgian town. The Emperor was not treated -with disrespect by the French prisoners whom the party -passed on the way. The officers on the other hand had -occasionally to listen to some unpleasant remarks. -Naturally they were “traitors,” as indeed from this -time forward everybody was who lost a battle or -suffered any other mishap. It seems to have been a -particularly painful moment for these gentlemen when -they passed a great number of French field pieces -that had fallen into our hands. Boyen related the -following anecdote. One of the Emperor’s aides-de-camp, -I believe it was the Prince de la Moscowa, -thought the guns belonged to us, as they were drawn<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[p. 162]</span> -by our horses, yet was apparently struck by something -in their appearance. He asked:—</p> - -<p>“<span lang="fr">Quoi, est-ce que vous avez deux systèmes d’artillerie?</span>”</p> - -<p>“<span lang="fr">Non, monsieur, nous n’avons qu’un seul</span>,” was the -reply.</p> - -<p>“<span lang="fr">Mais ces canons-là?</span>”</p> - -<p>“<span lang="fr">Ils ne sont pas les nôtres, monsieur.</span>”</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[p. 163]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="7">VII</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdgcent">FROM THE MEUSE TO THE MARNE</p> -</div> - -<p class="firstpara">I again quote from my diary.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, September 3rd.</i>—We left Donchery -shortly before 1 o’clock. On the way we were overtaken -by a short but severe storm, the thunder echoing along -the valleys. This was followed by a heavy rain, which -thoroughly drenched the Chancellor, who sat in an open -carriage, as he told us in the evening at table. Happily -it had no serious consequences: it depends more on -diplomacy, and if the Chief were to fall ill who could -replace him?</p> - -<p>I drove with the Councillors. Count Bohlen gave -us numerous details of the events of yesterday. Napoleon -had left Sedan at such an early hour it must have been -before or shortly after daybreak—because he felt it was -unsafe to remain in the midst of the furious soldiery, -who were packed into the fortress like herrings in a -barrel, and who burst into paroxysms of rage, breaking -their rifles and swords on hearing of the capitulation. -During the first interview at Donchery the Minister had, -amongst other things, told Wimpffen he must be well -aware that the arrogance and quarrelsomeness of the -French, and their jealousy at the success of neighbouring -peoples, did not originate with the working and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[p. 164]</span> -industrial classes, but with the journalists and the mob. -These elements, however, swayed public opinion, constraining -it to their will. For that reason the moral -guarantees to which the general had referred would be -of no value. We must have material guarantees, at -present by the capitulation of the army in Sedan, and -then by the cession of the great fortresses in the East. -The surrender of the French troops took place on a kind -of peninsula formed by a bend of the Meuse. Moltke had -ridden out some distance from Vendresse to meet the King. -The interview between the two Sovereigns took place in -the drawing-room of the château of Bellevue. They were -alone together for about ten minutes. Subsequently the -King summoned the officers of his suite, ordered the capitulation -to be read to him, and, with tears in his eyes, -thanked them for their assistance. The Crown Prince -is understood to have informed the Hessian regiments -that the King had selected Cassel for the internment of -the Emperor Napoleon, in recognition of their gallantry.</p> - -<p>The Minister dined with the King at Vendresse, -where we once more put up for the night, but he nevertheless -took some refreshment with us afterwards. He -read over to us a portion of a letter from his wife, -energetically expressing in biblical terms her hope that -the French would be destroyed. He then added meditatively, -“Well, in 1866—seven days. This time possibly -seven times seven. Yes—when did we cross the -frontier? On the 4th? No, on the 10th of August. Five -weeks ago. Seven times seven—it may be possible.”</p> - -<p>I again send off a couple of articles to Germany, -amongst them being one on the results of the battle of -the 1st September.</p> - -<p>We are to start for Reims to-morrow, our first halt -to be at Rethel.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[p. 165]</span></p> - -<p><i>Rethel, September 4th, evening.</i>—Early this morning -before we left Vendresse I was called to the Chief, to -receive instructions respecting reports for the newspapers -of his meeting with Napoleon. Towards the -close he practically dictated what I was to say.<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> Shortly -afterwards, about half-past 10, the carriages arrived, and -we began our journey into the champagne country. -The way was at first somewhat hilly, then we came to -a softly undulating plain, with numerous fruit gardens, -and finally to a poor district with very few villages. -We passed some large detachments of troops, at first -Bavarians, and afterwards the 6th and 50th Prussian -regiments. Amongst the latter Willisch saw his brother, -who had been in battle, and had escaped unwounded. -A little further on the carriage of Prince Charles had to -be left behind at a village, as the axle had caught -fire. We took Count Dönhoff, the Prince’s master of -the horse, and Major von Freyberg, aide-de-camp to -Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, into our conveyance. The -tragedy at Bazeilles was mentioned, and the major gave -an account of the circumstances, which differed considerably -from that of Count Bohlen. According to him -twenty peasants, including one woman, lost their lives, -but they were killed in fight while opposing the soldiers, -who stormed the place. A priest was afterwards shot -by court-martial. The Major however does not appear -to have been a witness of the occurrences which he -relates, so that his account of the affair may also prove -to be inaccurate. He knew nothing of the hangings -mentioned by Bohlen. There are some people whose -tongues are more cruel than their dispositions.</p> - -<p>We arrived at Rethel about 5.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> The quarter-master -had chosen a lodging for us in the roomy and well-furnished<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[p. 166]</span> -residence of one <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Duval, in the Rue Grand -Pont. The entire field bureau of the Foreign Office was -quartered in this house. After dinner I was summoned -three times to receive instructions from the Chief. -Amongst other things he said: “Metz and Strassburg -are what we require and what we wish to take—that is -the fortresses. Alsace is a professorial idea.” He evidently -referred to the strong emphasis laid upon the -German past of that province and the circumstance that -the inhabitants still retained the use of the German -language.</p> - -<p>In the meantime the German newspapers were delivered. -It was highly satisfactory to observe that the -South German press also began to oppose the efforts of -foreign diplomacy which desired to mediate in the -negotiations for peace between ourselves and France. -In this respect the <cite lang="de">Schwäbische Merkur</cite> was perfectly -in accord with the Chief’s views in saying: “When the -German peoples marched to the Rhine in order to defend -their native land, European diplomacy said the two -antagonists must be allowed to fight out their own -quarrel, and that the war must be thus localised. Well, -we have carried on that war alone against those who -threatened all Europe, and we now also desire to localise -the conclusion of peace. In Paris we shall ourselves -dictate the conditions which must protect the German -people from a renewal of such predaceous invasion as -the war of 1870, and the diplomats of foreign Powers -who looked on as spectators shall not be allowed to -have anything to say in the matter. Those who took -no part in the fight shall have no voice in the negotiations.” -“We must breed other articles from this one,” -said the Chief, and it did.</p> - -<p><i>Reims, September 5th.</i>—During the whole forenoon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[p. 167]</span> -great masses of troops marched along a road not far -from our quarters at Rethel Bridge. The procession -was closed by four regiments of Prussian infantry. It -was very noticeable how few officers there were. Several -companies were under the command of young lieutenants -or ensigns. This was the case with the 6th and 46th, -one battalion of which carried a captured French eagle. -Although the day was stiflingly hot, and the men were -covered with the white dust of the limestone roads, -they marched steadily and well. Our coachman placed -a bucket of water by the way, so that they could fill -their tin cans and glasses, and sometimes their helmets, -as they passed.</p> - -<p>Between 12 and 1 o’clock we started for Reims; the -district through which the road runs is in great part an -undulating plain with few villages.</p> - -<p>At length we see the towers of the Cathedral of -Reims rising over the glistening plains, and beyond the -town the blue heights that change to green as we -approach them, and show white villages along their -sides. We drive at first through poor outskirts and -then through better streets, and across a square with a -monument, to the Rue de Cloître, where we take up our -quarters, opposite the Cathedral, in a handsome house, -which belongs to a <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Dauphinot. The Chief lodged -on the first floor, while the office was set up on the -ground floor. The streets are crowded with Prussian -and Würtemberg soldiers. The King has done the -Archbishop the honour of taking up his quarters in his -Palace. I hear that our landlord is the Maire of Reims. -Keudell understands that the territory to be retained by -us at the close of the war will probably not be incorporated -with any one State or divided between several, -but will become the collective possession of all Germany.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[p. 168]</span></p> - -<p>In the evening the Chief dined with us, and as we -are here in the centre of the champagne country we try -several brands. In the course of conversation the Chief -mentions that he is usually bored at the royal table. -“When there are but few guests I sit near the King, -and then it is tolerable. But when there are a great -number present I am placed between the Bavarian -Prince and the Grand Duke of Weimar, and then the -conversation is inexpressibly tedious.” Some one remarked -that yesterday a shot was fired out of a café, -at a squadron of our hussars. The Minister said the -house must be immediately destroyed, and the proprietor -tried by court-martial. Stieber should be -instructed to inquire into the matter.</p> - -<p>I understand we are to remain here for ten or twelve -days.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, September 6th.</i>—I have been working -hard from 10 to 3 o’clock without interruption in -preparing, amongst other things, exhaustive, and also -shorter, articles respecting the conditions upon which -Germany should make peace. The Chief found an -article that appeared in the <cite lang="de">Volkszeitung</cite> of the 31st -of August “very sensible and well worth calling -attention to.” The writer argued against the annexation -to Prussia of the conquered French territory; and -after endeavouring to show that such a course would -rather weaken than strengthen Prussia, concluded with -the words: “Our aim ought to be, not the aggrandisement -of Prussia, but the unification of Germany, and -to put it out of the power of France to harm us.” -Bamberger has established a French newspaper at -Nancy, to which we are to send reports from time to -time.</p> - -<p>At dinner Count Bohlen remarked, as he counted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[p. 169]</span> -the places, “I hope we are not thirteen.” “No.” “That’s -right, as the Minister does not like that number.” -Bohlen, who seems to be charged with the supervision -of the fleshpots, has to-day evidently inspired the -genius of our <i lang="fr">chef-de-cuisine</i> to one of his greatest -achievements. The dinner is magnificent. Amongst -the guests are Von Knobelsdorff, a captain in the -Guards; Count York, and one Count Brühl, a somewhat -bashful young man, in the uniform of a lieutenant -of dragoons. The latter brought the great news that a -Republic had been proclaimed in Paris and a Provisional -Government appointed, in which Gambetta, hitherto -one of the orators of the Opposition, and Favre have -portfolios. Rochefort, the editor of <cite lang="fr">La Lanterne</cite>, is -also a member of the Cabinet. It is said that they -wish to continue the war against us. The position has, -therefore, not improved in so far as peace is concerned; -but it is also by no means worse, especially if the -Republic lasts, and it becomes, later on, a question of -gaining friends at foreign Courts. For the present it -is all over with Napoleon and Lulu. Like Louis -Philippe in 1848, the Empress has fled. We shall soon -discover what the lawyers and literary men, who have -now taken over the conduct of affairs, can do. Whether -France will recognise their authority remains to be -seen.</p> - -<p>Our uhlans are now at Château Thierry; in two -days they may reach Paris. It is now certain, however, -that we shall remain another week at Reims. Count -Bohlen reported to the Chief the result of his inquiries -respecting the café from which our cavalry were fired -at. Yielding to the entreaties of the proprietor, who -is believed to be innocent, the house has not been -destroyed. Moreover, the treacherous shot failed of its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[p. 170]</span> -effect. The proprietor has been let off with a fine of -two hundred or two hundred and fifty bottles of -champagne, to be presented to the squadron; and this -he gladly paid.</p> - -<p>At tea somebody (I now forget who it was) referred -to the exceptional position accorded to the Saxons in -the North German Confederation as regards military -arrangements. The Chancellor did not consider the -matter of much importance. “Moreover, that arrangement -was not made on my initiative,” he observed; -“Savigny concluded the treaty, as I was seriously ill at -the time. I am disposed to regard even less narrowly -the arrangements respecting the foreign relations of the -smaller States. Many people lay too much stress on -this point, and apprehend danger from the retention of -their diplomatic representatives besides those of the -Confederation. If such States were in other respects -powerful, they could, even without official representatives, -exchange letters with foreign Courts and intrigue -by word of mouth against our policy. That could be -managed by a dentist or any other personage of that -description. Moreover, the Diets will soon refuse to -grant the sums required for all such luxuries.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, September 8th.</i>—The Chancellor gives a -great dinner, the guests including the Hereditary Grand -Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Herr Stephan the -Chief Director of the Post Office, and the three -Americans. Amongst other matters mentioned at -table were the various reports as to the affair at -Bazeilles. The Minister said that peasants could not -be permitted to take part in the defence of a position. -Not being in uniform they could not be recognised as -combatants—they were able to throw away their arms -unnoticed. The chances must be equal for both sides.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[p. 171]</span> -Abeken considered that Bazeilles was hardly treated, -and thought the war ought to be conducted in a more -humane manner. Sheridan, to whom MacLean has -translated these remarks, is of a different opinion. He -considers that in war it is expedient, even from the -political point of view, to treat the population with the -utmost rigour also. He expressed himself roughly as -follows: “The proper strategy consists in the first -place in inflicting as telling blows as possible upon the -enemy’s army, and then in causing the inhabitants so -much suffering that they must long for peace, and force -their Government to demand it. The people must be -left nothing but their eyes to weep with over the war.” -Somewhat heartless it seems to me, but perhaps worthy -of consideration.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, September 9th.</i>—Engaged all the forenoon -and until 3 o’clock in writing various articles, amongst -others one on the inconceivable attachment of the -Alsacians to France, their voluntary helotry, and the -blindness which will not permit them to see and feel -that the Gauls only regard them as a kind of second-rate -Frenchmen, and in many respects treat them accordingly. -News has arrived that Paris is not to be -defended against us nor regarded as a fortress. This is -very questionable, as, according to other reports, the -French have still some regular troops at their disposal, -although not many.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, September 10th.</i>—The Chief dined with -the King to-day, but also joined us at table for half an hour. -Bohlen, who had visited the Imperial château -at Mourmelon, near Châlons, told us how the people -had wrecked the whole place, breaking the furniture, -mirrors, &c. After dinner the Chancellor had a long -talk alone with Boyen and Delbrück, who were amongst<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[p. 172]</span> -the guests. I was afterwards summoned to the -Minister to receive instructions respecting a <i lang="fr">communiqué</i> -to the two French newspapers published here, -namely the <cite lang="fr">Courier de la Champagne</cite> and the <cite lang="fr">Indépendant -Rémois</cite>. It was to the following effect: -“If the Reims press were to declare itself in favour of -the proclamation of a French Republic, and recognise -the new Government by publishing its decrees, it -might be inferred that as the town is occupied by -German troops the organs in question were acting in -harmony with the views of the German Government. -This is not the case. The German Government -respects the liberty of the press here as at home. It -has however up to the present recognised no Government -in France except that of the Emperor Napoleon. -Therefore until further notice it can only recognise the -Imperial Government as authorised to enter upon -international negotiations.”</p> - -<p>I give the following from my diary merely to show -the genuine kindness and simple good-heartedness of our -Chief. After giving me my instructions he remarked -that I had not been looking well; and when I told him I -had been rather unwell for the last few days, he inquired -minutely into the details, and asked me whether I had -consulted any doctor. I said I had not much faith in -physicians.</p> - -<p>“Well,” he replied, “they certainly are not of much -use as a rule, and often only make us worse. But this -is no laughing matter. Send to Lauer—he is really a -good man. I cannot tell you how much my health -owes to him during this campaign. Go to bed for a -couple of days and you will be all right again. Otherwise -you will have a relapse and may not be able to stir -for three weeks. I often suffer in the same way, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[p. 173]</span> -then I take thirty to thirty-five drops from that little -bottle on the chimney-piece. Take it with you, but -bring it back again. And when I send for you tell -me if you are not able to come and I will go to you. -You can perhaps write in bed.”</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, September 11th.</i>—The Chief’s bottle has -had an excellent effect. I was again able to rise early -and work with ease. The contents of the <i lang="fr">communiqué</i> -were forwarded to the newspaper at Nancy as well as -to the German press. It was pointed out, in correction -of the remarks of the <cite lang="de">Kieler Zeitung</cite> and the Berlin -<cite lang="de">Volkszeitung</cite>, that Prussia did not conclude the Peace of -Prague with France, but with Austria, and that, consequently, -the French have as little to do with paragraph -5 as with any other paragraph of that treaty.</p> - -<p>In the course of the day one <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Werle called upon -the Chief. He was a tall, haggard man, with the red -ribbon in his button-hole which appears to be indispensable -to every well-dressed Frenchman. He is -understood to be a member of the Legislative Chamber, -and a partner in the firm of Veuve Clicquot. He wished -to speak to the Chief as to measures for mitigating the -distress which prevailed in the town, and for providing -against popular riots. It was feared that the working -classes here, being in a state of ferment, would declare -in favour of a Red Republic. As Reims was an industrial -centre, with ten or twelve thousand <i lang="fr">ouvriers</i> within -its walls, there might be general ground for apprehension -on the withdrawal of our troops. That also was a thing -one could have hardly dreamed of a month ago—German -soldiers protecting the French from Communism!</p> - -<p>After dinner I was summoned several times to the -Chief to receive instructions. In Belgium and Luxemburg -our wounded were received in an unfriendly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[p. 174]</span> -manner, and it is suspected, probably not without reason, -that ultramontane influence is at the bottom of this -conduct. Favre, “who does not exist for us,” as the -Chief declared to-day, has asked, indirectly through -London, whether we are disposed to grant an armistice -and to enter into negotiations. Favre seems to consider -this question as very pressing. The Chancellor, however, -does not.</p> - -<p>When Bölsing brought in the despatch from Bernstorff, -stating that Lord Granville requested an early -reply from the Chancellor of the Confederation to Favre’s -inquiry, the Minister simply remarked, “There is no -hurry to answer this rubbish.”</p> - -<p>After 10 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> the Chief joined us at tea.</p> - -<p>The conversation ultimately turned on the politics -of recent years. The Chancellor said: “What I am -proudest of, however, is our success in the Schleswig-Holstein -affair, in which the diplomatic intrigues would -furnish matter for a play. In the first place, Austria -could not well have sided with the Augustenburger in -presence of her previous attitude as recorded in the -proceedings of the Germanic Diet, for which she was -bound to show some regard. Then she wanted to find -some tolerable way out of the embarrassment in which -she had involved herself with the Congress of Princes -at Frankfurt. Immediately after the death of the King -of Denmark I explained what I wanted in a long speech -at a sitting of the Council of State. The official who -drew up the minutes of the sitting omitted the most -important part of my speech; he must have thought -that I had lunched too well, and would be glad if he -left it out. But I took care that it was again inserted. -It was difficult, however, to carry my idea into execution. -Everything was against it—Austria, the English, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[p. 175]</span> -small States—both Liberal and anti-Liberal, the Opposition -in the Diet, influential personages at Court, and -the majority of the Press.</p> - -<p>“Yes, at that time there was some hard fighting, -the hardest being with the Court, and it demanded -stronger nerves than mine. It was about the same at -Baden-Baden before the Congress at Frankfurt, when -the King of Saxony was in Baden, and wanted our -King to go to that Assembly. It was literally in the -sweat of my brow that I prevented him from doing so.” -I asked the Chief, after some further remarks, if the -King had really wished to join the other Princes. “He -certainly did,” replied the Minister, “and I only succeeded -with the utmost difficulty in preventing him, -literally hanging on to his coat-tails.” The Chief then -continued to the following effect: “His Majesty said he -could not well do otherwise when a King had come to -him as a courier to bring the invitation. All the women -were in favour of his going, the Dowager Queen, the -reigning Queen, and the Grand Duchess of Baden. I -declared to the Dowager that I would not remain Minister -nor return to Berlin if the King allowed himself to -be persuaded. She said she was very sorry, but if I -seriously meant that, she must surrender her own view -and use her influence with the King in the other direction, -although it was greatly opposed to her own convictions. -The affair was, however, still made quite -disagreeable enough for me. After the King of Saxony -and Beust had been with him, his Majesty lay on the -sofa and had an attack of hysterical weeping; and when -at length I had succeeded in wringing from him the -letter of refusal, I was myself so weak and exhausted -that I could scarcely stand. Indeed, I actually reeled -as I left the room, and was so nervous and unhinged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[p. 176]</span> -that in closing the outer door I tore off the handle. -The aide-de-camp asked me if I was unwell. I said, -‘No, I am all right again <em>now</em>.’ I told Beust, however, -that I would have the regiment stationed at Rastatt -brought over to guard the house, and to prevent anybody -else having access to the King in order to put -fresh pressure upon him.” Keudell also mentioned that -the Minister had intended to get Beust arrested. It -was getting late when the Chief had finished his narrative -of those events, so he retired, saying: “Yes, gentlemen, -a delicate nervous system has to endure a good -deal. I shall therefore be off to bed. Good night.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, September 12th.</i>—Engaged writing various -paragraphs till noon.</p> - -<p>According to some of the German papers the Chief -had declared that in the battle of Sedan, Prussia’s allies -fought best. What he said, however, was only that -they co-operated in the best possible way. “The -Belgians,” said the Minister, “display such hatred -towards us and such warm attachment for the French, -that perhaps after all something might be done to -satisfy them. It might at any rate be well to suggest -that arrangements even with the present French -Government are not entirely out of the question, which -would gratify Belgian yearnings towards France. Call -attention,” added the Chief, “to the fact that the -present animosity in Belgium is due chiefly to ultramontane -agitation.”</p> - -<p>The Bavarian Count Luxburg, who is staying with -Kühlwetter, has distinguished himself by his talent and -zeal. In future he is to take part in the consideration -of all important questions.</p> - -<p>A report has been received to the effect that America -has offered her services as a mediator between ourselves<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[p. 177]</span> -and the new French Republic. This mediation will not -be declined, and as a matter of fact would be preferred -to that of any other State. It may be assumed that the -authorities at Washington are not disposed to interfere -with our necessary military operations, which would -however probably be the consequence of such mediation. -The Chief appears to have been for a considerable time -past well disposed towards the Americans, and not long -ago it was understood that he hoped to secure permission -to fit out ships in the American harbours against the -French navy. Doubtless there is no longer any probability -of this being done.</p> - -<p>To conclude from a communication which he has -forwarded to Carlsruhe, the Minister regards the general -situation as follows:—“Peace seems to be still very -remote, as the Government in Paris does not promise to -be permanent. When the proper moment for negotiations -has arrived, the King will summon his allies to -consider our demands. Our principal object is and -remains to secure the South-Western German frontier -against the danger of a French invasion, to which it has -now been subjected for centuries. A neutral buffer -State like Belgium or Switzerland would not serve our -purpose, as it would unquestionably join France in case -of a fresh outbreak of war. Metz and Strassburg, with -an adequate portion of surrounding territory, must belong -to all Germany, to serve as a protective barrier against -the French. The partition of this territory between -single States is inexpedient. The fact that this war has -been waged in common cannot fail to have exercised a -healthy influence in other respects on the cause of -German unity; but nevertheless Prussia will, as a matter -of course, after the war as before it, respect the views of -the South, and avoid even the suspicion of any kind of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[p. 178]</span> -pressure. In this matter a great deal will depend upon -the personal disposition and determination of the King -of Bavaria.”</p> - -<p>Before dinner to-day Prince Luitpold of Bavaria had -a long interview with the Chief. In the evening at tea -the Minister, referring to this interview, said: “The -Prince is certainly a good fellow, but I rather doubt -whether he understood the historical and political statements -which I made to him to-day.”</p> - -<p>I have reason to believe that this interview was the -beginning of negotiations (which were several times -interrupted) between the Chancellor of the Confederation -and the Emperors of Austria and Russia, which -gradually led to an understanding and finally resulted -in the so-called <i lang="de">Drei Kaiser Bündniss</i>, or Three -Emperors’ Alliance. The object of these “historical -and political statements” was to induce Prince Luitpold -to write a letter to his brother-in-law, the Archduke -Albrecht, submitting certain views to the personal consideration -of the Emperor Francis Joseph. This was -one of the few ways in which it appeared possible for -those considerations to reach the Emperor’s own ear in -an ungarbled form. They were as follows: The turn -which events have taken in Paris renders it possible to -regard the present war between Germany and France as -a defence of monarchical conservative principles against -the republican and socialistic tenets adopted by the -present holders of power in France. The proclamation -of the Republic in Paris has been welcomed with warm -approval in Spain, and it is to be expected that it will -obtain a like reception in Italy. In that circumstance -lies the great danger for those European States that are -governed on a monarchical system. The best security -for the cause of order and civilisation against this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[p. 179]</span> -solidarity of the revolutionary and republican elements -would be a closer union of those countries which, like -Germany, Russia, and Austria, still afford a firm support -to the monarchical principle. Austria, however, can -only be included in such an understanding when it is -recognised in that country that the attempts hitherto -made in the Cisleithan half of the monarchy to introduce -a liberal system are based on a mistaken policy, -as are also the national experiments in a Polish -direction. The appointment of Klaczko, a Polish -literary man, to a position in which he is in close -relations with Beust, the Chancellor of the Empire, -whose policy and tendency are well known, together -with the latest declarations of Klaczko, must be regarded -as indications of Beust’s own views and -intentions. This co-operation with the Polish -revolutionists, together with the hostility to Russia -which is manifested thereby, is for the Chancellor of -the German Confederation a serious hindrance to good -relations with Austria, and must at the same time be -regarded as an indication of hostility to ourselves. In -connection with the above the position of the Cisleithan -half of the dual State must be taken into consideration, -and the difficulties which it presents cannot be overcome -except by a conservative <i lang="fr">régime</i>. It is only -through the frank adoption of relations of mutual -confidence towards united Germany and Russia that -Austria can find the support which she requires against -revolutionary and centrifugal forces, a support which -she has lost through the disastrous policy of Count -Beust.</p> - -<p>Prince Luitpold’s letter giving expression to these -views failed to produce the desired result. It is true -the Archduke Albrecht submitted it to the Emperor,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[p. 180]</span> -but he showed it at the same time to Beust. His -answer, which was inspired by Beust, was in the main -to the effect that Austria, so long as no special political -advantages were offered by us, did not feel any need of -support. If Prussia, as it would appear, regarded a -<i lang="fr">rapprochement</i> with Austria as desirable or requisite, -nothing had been heard so far as to what she had -to offer in return to the dual monarchy, whose interests -were complex. The Emperor would gladly -consider any suggestions that reached him in a -direct way.</p> - -<p>The Tsar Alexander was informed of the attempt -made in Vienna through the Bavarian Prince, his -attention being at the same time called to the notorious -understanding which existed between the present -Government in Paris and the revolutionary propagandists -throughout Europe. The desirability of a -close co-operation of the Eastern Powers against this -movement was urged upon him on the one hand, while -on the other the necessity was pointed out for Germany -to avoid, when concluding peace, anything which might -look like disregard for the real requirements of the -country in the matter of frontier protection and -security, and thus give the German revolutionary party -an opportunity of poisoning the public mind. The -Tsar declared himself in perfect agreement with these -views, and expressed a strong desire for the realisation -of the proposed union of the monarchical elements -against the revolutionary movement.</p> - -<p>Subsequently, after the insurrection of the Communists -in Paris, the progress of the International, upon -which considerable stress was also laid in the Press, was -used as a further argument for the combination of the -conservative Powers against the republican and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[p. 181]</span> -socialistic propaganda. This time the representations -in question met with more success in Vienna.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, September 13th.</i>—In the course of the -forenoon I was called in to the Chancellor six times, and -wrote as many paragraphs for the press. Amongst -them were two for the local French papers, which also -received some information from us yesterday. Arrangements -were made to secure the insertion of the portrait -and biography of General von Blumenthal in the -illustrated papers with which we entertain friendly -relations, a distinction which he has well deserved. -“So far as one can see,” said the Chief, “the papers -make no mention of him, although he is chief of the -staff to the Crown Prince, and, next after Moltke, -deserves most credit for the conduct of the war.</p> - -<p>“I should like a grant to be made to him. He won -the battles of Weissenburg and Wörth, and afterwards -those of Beaumont and Sedan, as the Crown Prince was -not always interfering with his plans, as Prince Frederick -Charles did in 1866. The latter fancied that he understood -a great deal about these matters.”</p> - -<p>In the evening the Count sent for me once more. -It was merely to show me a telegram, which he handed -to me with a smile. It was a message from the Grand -Duke of Weimar to the Grand Duchess, couched in the -style of the King’s despatches to the Queen, in which -the Duke reported, “My army has fought very bravely.” -Greatness, like murder, will out. But still there are -cases in which imitation had better be avoided.</p> - -<p>On the 14th of September, shortly before 10 o’clock, -we started for Château Thierry, and reached Meaux on -the next day.</p> - -<p>Before dinner we heard that a <i lang="fr">parlementaire</i> has -arrived from Paris, a slight dark-haired young gentleman,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[p. 182]</span> -who is now standing in the courtyard before the -Chief’s house. From his language he would appear to -be an Englishman. In the evening he has a long conversation -with the Chief over a bottle of kirschwasser, -and turns out to be <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Edward Malet, an <i lang="fr">attaché</i> of -the British Embassy in Paris. As I had to pass through -the antechamber I noticed the attendant, Engel, with -his ear to the keyhole, curious to know what they were -talking about. He had brought a letter from Lord -Lyons asking whether the Count would enter into -negotiations with Favre as to the conditions of an -armistice. The Chancellor is understood to have replied: -“As to conditions of peace, yes; but not for an -armistice.”<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> - -<p>I see from the letters of some Berlin friends that -many well-meaning and patriotic persons cannot bring -themselves to accept the idea that the conquered territory -is not to be annexed to Prussia. According to a -communication from Heinrich von Treitschke, of Freiburg, -it is feared that Alsace and Lorraine may be -handed over to Bavaria, and that a new dual system -may thus arise. In a letter to the Chief he says: “It -is obvious that Prussia alone is capable of once more -Germanising the Teutonic provinces of France.” He -refers to a “circumstance to which too little attention -is paid in the North—namely, that all sensible men in -South Germany desire to see Alsace handed over to -Prussia;” and declares that “it is a great mistake if it -is thought in the North that the South must be rewarded -by an increase of territory and population.” I cannot -imagine where Treitschke can have heard such erroneous -views. So far as I am aware they are held by none of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[p. 183]</span> -our people. I fancy it is thought here that the South -will be sufficiently rewarded in being at length secured -against French lust of conquest. Other ideas of the -writer can only be regarded as sound in certain circumstances. -Our Chief’s plan, to which I have previously -referred, is unquestionably more just and better adapted -to the existing situation—namely, to make those provinces -the common property of all Germany. By taking -that course the conquered territory would not become -an object of envy and a cause of dissatisfaction to -Prussia’s allies; but, on the contrary, would serve as a -bond of union between North and South.</p> - -<p>I hear from Willisch that certain apprehensions are -entertained in Berlin, which are understood to originate -in the <i lang="fr">entourage</i> of the Queen. Owing to the anxiety -occasioned by the blowing-up of the citadel at Laon, -objections are raised to the King entering Paris, where, -it is apprehended, something might happen to him. -Wrangel has telegraphed in this sense to the King, and -it is stated that as a matter of fact his Majesty is -now no longer inclined to go to Paris, and is disposed -to await the further development of affairs at Rothschild’s -place in Ferrières, which lies about half-way -between Meaux and Paris.</p> - -<p>Prince Hohenlohe dines at our table, where the -Chief also joins us after returning from dinner with the -King. We learn that Reims will be the administrative -centre of the French provinces occupied by our troops, -with the exception of Alsace and Lorraine. The Grand -Duke of Mecklenburg is Governor-General, and will be -at the head of the administration, and Hohenlohe will -take a position under him.</p> - -<p>The Chief remarked to his cousin, who complained -of not feeling well: “At your age” (Bohlen is now<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[p. 184]</span> -thirty-eight) “I was still as sound as a bell, and could -take all sorts of liberties with myself. It was at St. -Petersburg that my health first sprang a leak.”</p> - -<p>Somebody turned the conversation on Paris and the -subject of the French and the Alsacians. The Chief -gave his views on this matter very fully, addressing his -remarks to me at the close, which I took to be a -permission, or a hint, that I should either get his words -or their purport into the newspapers. The Alsacians -and the Germans of Lorraine, he declared, supply France -with numbers of capable men, especially for the army, -but they are not held of much account by the French, -and seldom attain to high positions in the service of the -State, while they are laughed at by the Parisians, who -make caricatures and stories out of them, just as the -Irish are laughed at in London. “Other French -provincials are treated in the same way,” added the -Minister, “if not quite so badly. To a certain extent, -France is divided into two nations, the Parisians and -the Provincials, and the latter are the voluntary helots -of the former. The object to be aimed at now is the -emancipation, the liberation of France from Parisian -rule. When a provincial feels that he is capable of -making a future for himself he comes to Paris, and is -there adopted into, and becomes one of, the ruling -caste. It is a question whether we should not oblige -them to take back the Emperor as a punishment. That -is still possible, as the peasants do not wish to be -tyrannised from Paris. France is a nation of ciphers—a -mere herd. The French are wealthy and elegant, -but they have no individuality, no consciousness as -individuals, but only as a mass. They are like thirty -million obedient Kaffirs, each one of whom is in himself -featureless and worthless, not fit to be compared with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[p. 185]</span> -Russians and Italians, to say nothing of ourselves. It -was an easy task to recruit out of this impersonal, -invertebrate mass a phalanx ready to oppress the -remainder of the country so long as it was not united.”</p> - -<p>After dinner wrote several paragraphs in accordance -with the Chief’s instructions and explanations. The -subjects were: The German friends of the Republic—men -like Jacoby, the Socialistic Democrats, and others -holding similar views—will not hear of the annexation -of French territory, being in the first place Republicans, -and only in a secondary sense, to a certain extent, -German. The security afforded to Germany by the -seizure of Strassburg and Metz is detestable to them, as -it is a bulwark against the Republic which they want -to see established, weakening their propaganda, and -injuring their prospects on our side of the Rhine. They -place their party higher than their country. They -welcomed the opposition to Napoleon, because he was -an opponent of their doctrines, but since he has been -replaced by the Republic they have become Frenchmen -in sentiment and disposition. Russia has expressed a -desire for a revision of the treaty entered into as the -result of her defeat in the Crimean war. The alterations -proposed in certain points of that instrument must be -regarded as just. The Peace of Paris includes conditions -respecting the Black Sea which are unfair, in view of -the fact that a great part of the coast belongs to Russia. -This must, however, be cautiously expressed.</p> - -<p>The conjecture that the Crown Prince is of opinion -that the Bavarians and Suabians, if they are not disposed -willingly to form part of united Germany, must -be compelled to do so, is correct. He is inclined to -act on the maxim, <i lang="de">Der Bien muss</i>. I hear that at -Donchery, or near that town, he had a long conversation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[p. 186]</span> -on the subject with the Chancellor, who declared himself -strongly against this idea.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, September 17th.</i>—I did a good deal of -work this morning and afternoon from instructions -received yesterday. Amongst other things, I embodied -in an article the following ideas, which are very characteristic -of the Chancellor’s manner of thinking:</p> - -<p>“The morning edition of the <cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite> of -September 11th contains a paragraph entitled ‘From -Wilhelmshöhe,’ in which the writer, after lamenting -the considerate treatment of the Prisoner of Sedan, -falls into further errors. Nemesis should have shown -no indulgence towards the man of December 2nd, the -author of the laws of public safety, the prime mover in -the Mexican tragedy, and the instigator of the present -terrible war. The victor has been ‘far too chivalrous.’ -That is the way in which the matter is regarded by -‘public opinion,’ as endorsed apparently by the writer. -We do not in any way share those views. Public -opinion is only too much disposed to treat political -relations and events from the standpoint of private -morals, and, amongst other things, to demand that in -international conflicts the victor, guided by the moral -code, should sit in judgment upon the vanquished, and -impose penalties not only for the transgressions of the -latter towards himself, but also, if possible, towards -others. Such a demand is entirely unjustifiable. To -advance it shows an utter misapprehension of the -nature of political affairs, with which the conceptions of -punishment, reward, and revenge have nothing in -common. To accede to it would be to pervert the -whole character of politics. Politics must leave to -Divine Providence and to the God of Battles the -punishment of princes and peoples for breaches of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[p. 187]</span> -moral law. The statesman has neither the authority -nor the obligation to assume the office of judge. In all -circumstances the sole question he has to consider is -what, under the conditions given, is to the advantage -of the country, and how that advantage is to be best -secured. The kindlier affections have as little place in -the calculations of politics as they have in those of -trade. It is not the business of politics to seek vengeance -for what has been done, but to take precautions -that it shall not be done again. Applying these -principles to our case, and to our conduct towards the -vanquished and imprisoned Emperor of the French, we -take the liberty to ask by what right are we to punish -him for the 2nd of December, the law of public safety, -and the occurrences in Mexico, however much we may -disapprove of those acts? Political principles do not -even permit us to think of taking revenge for the -present war, of which he was the author. Were we to -entertain such an idea, then it is not alone on Napoleon -but almost on every single Frenchman that we should -wreak the Blücher-like vengeance mentioned by the -<cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite>; for the whole of France, with her -thirty-five million inhabitants, showed just as much -approval of, and enthusiasm for, this war as for the -Mexican expedition. Germany has simply to ask -herself the further question, Which is more advantageous -in the present circumstances, to treat Napoleon -well or ill? And that, we believe, is not difficult to -answer. Upon the same principles we also acted in -1866. If certain of the measures taken in that year -and certain provisions in the Treaty of Prague could be -regarded as acts of revenge for former affronts, and -punishment for the offences that led to the war in -question, the parties affected by those measures and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[p. 188]</span> -conditions were not exactly those who had deserved the -severest punishment or had done most to excite a -desire for vengeance. Herr von Beust’s Saxony suffered -no reduction of territory in consequence of that crisis, -and Austria just as little.” This last sentence, which -appeared literally as it now stands in the Chief’s -instructions, was afterwards struck out by him. He -remarked with a smile, “It is better not to mention -names.”</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, September 18th.</i>—Early in the day wrote -paragraphs for Berlin, Hagenau, and Reims, dealing, -<i lang="la">inter alia</i>, with Favre’s declaration that “<span lang="fr">La République -c’est la paix</span>.” It was in the main to the following -effect. During the last forty years France has always -declared herself in favour of peace in every form, and -has invariably acted in an entirely contrary spirit. -Twenty years ago the Empire declared peace to be its -ideal, and now the Republic does the same. In 1829 -Legitimacy made a similar declaration, and at the same -time a Franco-Russian alliance was concluded with the -object of attacking Germany; and the execution of -that plan was only prevented by the Revolution of -1830. It is also known that the “peaceful” administration -of the “Citizen King” desired to seize the -Rhine in 1840; and it will be remembered that under -the Empire France has conducted more wars than -under any other form of government. These facts -show what we have to expect from <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Favre’s assurances -respecting his Republic. Germany has one -answer to all these representations, namely, “<span lang="fr">La -France c’est la guerre!</span>” and will act in accordance -with that conviction in demanding the cession of Metz -and Strassburg.</p> - -<p>The Minister joined as at lunch to-day, at which two<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[p. 189]</span> -dragoon guardsmen were also present. Both wore the -Iron Cross. One of them, Lieutenant Philip von -Bismarck, was the Chancellor’s nephew, an official of the -Supreme Court of Judicature in times of peace. The -Chief asked him whether the Prince of Hohenzollern, -who was attached to the lieutenant’s regiment, was -“also a soldier, or merely a Prince?” The answer was -favourable. The Minister replied: “I am glad of that. -The fact of his having announced his election as King of -Spain to his superior officer, in accordance with the -regulations, impressed me in his favour.”</p> - -<p>The conversation turned upon the cost of maintaining -Napoleon at Wilhelmshöhe, which is stated to be -something enormous. On this the Chief remarked: “It -is at the Queen’s instance that Napoleon has been allowed -to maintain a Court at the King’s expense. His Majesty -had only proposed to give him one domestic who was to -keep watch over him. But he himself observed to me -that women are always addicted to extravagance.”</p> - -<p>Mention was made of General Ducrot, who was taken -prisoner at Sedan, and who, being allowed greater liberty -on pledging his word not to escape, disgraced himself by -absconding on the way to Germany. The Chief remarked: -“When one catches scoundrels of that kind -who have broken their word (of course, I don’t blame -those who get away without it) they ought to be strung -up in their red breeches with the word <i lang="fr">Parjure</i> written -on one leg, and <i lang="fr">Infâme</i> on the other. In the meantime -that must be put in its proper light in the press. The -fellow must be shown up.” The barbarous manner in -which the French were conducting the war having been -again referred to, the Minister said: “If you peel the -white hide off that sort of Gaul you will find a Turco -under it.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[p. 190]</span></p> - -<p><i>Added later.</i>—Von Suckow, the Würtemberg Minister -of war, has been a considerable time with the Chief to-day, -and it is understood that the German cause is -making excellent progress amongst the Suabians. -Things appear to be going less well in Bavaria, where -the Minister, Bray, seems to be as hostile to the national -cause as he well can be in the present circumstances.</p> - -<p><i>Monday, September 19th.</i>—It is said to be certain -that Favre will arrive here to-day at noon for the -purpose of negotiating with the Chief. He will have -fine weather for his business. About 10 o’clock Count -Bismarck-Bohlen comes from the Chief. We are to -start immediately for the Château of Ferrières, four or -five hours’ journey from here. So we pack up in all -haste.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[p. 191]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="8">VIII</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">BISMARCK AND FAVRE AT HAUTE-MAISON—A FORTNIGHT -IN ROTHSCHILD’S CHÂTEAU</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara">Jules Favre not having arrived up to midday on the 19th -of September, our party started. The Minister, however, -left a letter for Favre at the Mairie, and told a -servant to mention the fact to him in case he came. -The Chief and the Councillors rode on ahead of the -carriages, of which I had one entirely to myself. We -first passed by the residence of the King, who was -quartered in a handsome château on the Promenade, and -between the villages of Mareuil and Montry we met a -two-horse hackney, in which a Prussian officer sat with -three civilians. One of the latter was an elderly gentleman -with a grey beard and a protruding under lip. -“That’s Favre,” I said to Kruger, the Chancery -attendant who sat behind me. “Where is the Minister?” -He was not to be seen, but had probably gone on -before us, and the long train of conveyances cut off our -view in front. We drove on rapidly, and after a while I -met the Chief and Keudell riding back in the opposite -direction.</p> - -<p>“Favre has driven by, Excellency,” I said.</p> - -<p>“I know,” he replied, smiling, and trotted on.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[p. 192]</span></p> - -<p>Next day Count Hatzfeldt gave us some particulars -of the meeting between the Chancellor of the Confederation -and the Parisian lawyer, now one of the rulers of -France. The Minister, Count Hatzfeldt and Keudell -were half an hour ahead of us when <i lang="de">Hofrath</i> -Taglioni, who drove with the King’s suite, told them -that Favre had passed by. He had come by another -route and had only reached its junction with our road -after the Chief had ridden by. The Minister was very -angry at not having been sooner informed of this. -Hatzfeldt galloped after Favre, with whom he returned, -finally meeting the Chief at Montry. Here the attention -of the Minister was called to the little château of Haute-Maison, -situated on a height some ten minutes from the -village, as a suitable place for the interview with the -Frenchman. There the party found two Würtemberg -dragoons, one of whom was instructed to take his -carbine and mount guard before the house. They also -met there a French peasant, who looked as if he had -just received a good thrashing. While our people were -asking this man whether it was possible to get anything -to eat or drink, Favre, who had gone into the house with -the Chancellor, came out for a moment and addressed -his countryman in a speech full of pathos and noble -sentiments. Disorderly attacks had been made, he -said, which must be stopped. He, Favre, was not a spy, -but, on the contrary, a member of the new government -which had undertaken to defend the interests of the -country and which represented its dignity. In the name -of international law and of the honour of France he -called upon him to keep watch, and to see that the place -was held sacred. That was imperatively demanded by -his, the statesman’s, honour, as well as by that of the -peasant, and so forth. The honest rustic looked particularly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[p. 193]</span> -silly as he listened open-mouthed to all this -high falutin, which he evidently understood as little as if -it were so much Greek. Keudell remarked, “If this is -the individual who is to preserve us from a surprise, I for -my part prefer to trust to the sentry.”</p> - -<p>On the same evening I learnt from another source -that lodgings had been taken for Favre in the village -near the Château of Ferrières, as he desired to have a -further conference with the Chief. He was accompanied -by <abbr title="Messieurs" lang="fr">MM.</abbr> Rink and Hell, formerly Secretaries of -Embassy under Benedetti, and Prince Biron. Keudell -said, “As the Chancellor left the room where his interview -with Favre had taken place, he asked the dragoon -who was on guard before the door whence he came. -The man replied, ‘From Schwäbisch-Hall.’ ‘Well, -then, you may be proud,’ he continued, ‘of having -stood guard over the first negotiation for peace in this -war.’”</p> - -<p>In the meantime the remainder of us had a long wait -at Cheffy for the return of the Chancellor, and then—probably -with his permission—drove on to Ferrières, -which we reached in about two hours. On the way we -passed along the edge of the zone which the French had -designedly laid waste all round Paris. Here the -destruction was not very marked, but the population of -the villages seemed to have been in great part driven -away by the Gardes Mobiles.</p> - -<p>At length, just as it began to grow dark, we entered -the village of Ferrières, and shortly afterwards Rothschild’s -estate. The King and the first section of his -suite took up their quarters for a considerable time in -this château. The Minister was to lodge in the last -three rooms on the first floor of the right wing, looking -out on the meadows and the park. A large drawing-room<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[p. 194]</span> -on the ground floor was selected for the bureau, -and a smaller one of the same corridor as a breakfast -and dining-room. Baron Rothschild was in Paris, and -only left behind him three or four female domestics and a -housekeeper, who gave himself great airs of importance.</p> - -<p>It was already dark when the Chief arrived, and -shortly after we sat down to dinner. While we were -still at table a message was received from Favre, asking -when he could come to continue the negotiations. He -had a conference <i lang="fr">tête-à-tête</i> with the Chancellor in our -bureau from 9.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> until after 11. On leaving he -looked distressed, crestfallen, almost in despair—my -diary remarks that possibly this expression was assumed -with the object of impressing the Minister.</p> - -<p>In connection with the news that the King has gone -to Clayes in order to prevent an attack being made by -our troops, the Chief, in the course of conversation at -dinner, said, amongst other things, that “many of our -generals have abused the devotion of the troops in order -to secure victory.” “Possibly,” he added, “the hard-hearted -reprobates of the general staff are right when -they say that even if the whole five hundred thousand -men whom we have now in France were to be wiped out, -that should merely be regarded as the loss of so many -pawns, so long as we ultimately won the game. It is -very simple strategy, however, to plunge in head -foremost in that way without counting the cost. -Altogether, those who conduct the operations are -often not worth much—armchair strategists. A plan is -prepared in which the whole calculation is based first of -all upon the extraordinary qualities of both soldiers and -regimental officers. It is these who alone have achieved -everything. Our success is due to the fact that our -soldiers are physically stronger than the French, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[p. 195]</span> -they can march better, have more patience and sense of -duty, and are more impetuous in attack. If MacMahon -had commanded Prussian soldiers and Alvensleben -Frenchmen, the latter would have been defeated—although -he is my friend.” “It is no longer possible, -as it was in the Seven Years’ War, to direct a battle from -the saddle—the armies are too large. There is also no -genuine co-operation and mutual assistance. Battles -begin usually like those described by Homer. Some of -the men commence with small provocations, and go on -taunting each other, then they begin to shoot; the -others see this and rush forward, and so finally the -engagement becomes general.” “The plan of surrounding -the enemy is the right one, and properly speaking -that was only adopted at Sedan. The engagement of -the 16th at Metz was quite correct, as it was necessary -there at any cost to prevent the French from escaping. -The sacrifice of the guards on the 18th however was not -necessary. It was a piece of pure folly, occasioned by -jealousy of the Saxons. They ought to have waited at -Saint Privat until the Saxons had completed their -manœuvre for cutting off the enemy.”</p> - -<p>Keudell and Bohlen afterwards ascribed this unfavourable -criticism to a quarrel which the Chief had -had with Moltke at Reims.</p> - -<p>While still at table we had a specimen of the -hospitality and gentlemanly feeling of the Baron, whose -house is honoured by the presence of the King, and -whose property has, in consequence, been treated with -every consideration. <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> de Rothschild, the hundred-fold -millionaire, who, moreover, was, until recently, the -Prussian Consul-General in Paris, has declined, through -his housekeeper, to let us have the wine we require, -although I informed that functionary that it would be -paid for, just as everything else was. When summoned<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[p. 196]</span> -before the Chief, he had the audacity to persist in his -refusal, first denying absolutely that there was any wine -in the house, and afterwards admitting that there were -a few hundred bottles of a common Bordeaux. As a -matter of fact, there were some seventeen thousand -bottles. The Minister, however, explained the situation -to him in a few sharp words, pointing out how niggardly -and discourteous it was of his master to requite the -King in such manner for the honour done to him in -taking up his quarters there. As the fellow still seemed -obstinate, the Chancellor asked him sternly if he knew -what a bundle of straw was. The man made no answer, -but seemed to suspect what it meant, as he became -deadly pale. He was then informed that it was a -contrivance on which obstinate and impudent housekeepers -were laid face downwards—he could imagine -the rest for himself. Next day we got everything that -we required, and, so far as I am aware, there was no -further cause of complaint.</p> - -<p>Next morning the Chief came into the <i lang="fr">chambre de -chasse</i> of the château, which we occupied as our bureau. -Turning over the game book which lay on the table he -pointed out the entry for the 3rd of November, 1856, -which showed that he himself, with Galiffet and other -guests, had that day shot forty-two head of game—fourteen -hares, one rabbit, and twenty-seven pheasants. -He is now engaged with Moltke and others in chasing -a nobler quarry—the bear to which he referred at -Grand Pré.</p> - -<p>At 11 o’clock the Chief had his third meeting with -Favre, after which followed a conference with the King, -at which Moltke and Roon were also present.</p> - -<p>In the evening I was called to the Chief, who had not -appeared at table, and who, it was understood, did not -feel quite well. A narrow stone winding stairs, which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[p. 197]</span> -was distinguished with the title, “<span lang="fr">Escalier particulier de -M. le Baron</span>,” led to a very elegantly furnished room, -where I found the Chancellor sitting on the sofa in his -dressing gown.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, September 21st.</i>—As the Chief had recovered -from his indisposition, we had plenty to do, and -though most of it cannot be made public, I am now at -liberty to quote the following passage from my diary:—</p> - -<p>“The imperial emigrants in London have established -an organ, <cite lang="fr">La Situation</cite>, to represent their interests. Its -contents are to be reproduced in the newspapers we have -founded in the eastern districts of France, but the sources -are to be so indicated as not to identify us with the -views therein expressed: <i>i.e.</i>, it must be understood that -we are not endeavouring to promote the restoration of -the Emperor. Our object is merely to maintain the -sense of insecurity and discord between the various -French parties, which are all equally hostile to us. The -retention of the imperial symbols and formulas in -despatches will prove of service in this respect; otherwise -Napoleon or a Republic is a matter of indifference -to us. We merely desire to utilise the existing chaos in -France. The future of that country does not concern -us. It is the business of the French themselves to shape -it as best they can. It is only of importance to us in so -far as it affects our own interests, the furtherance of -which must be the guiding principle in politics generally.” -Under instructions from the Chief I telegraphed -in the above sense to the principal officials at Nancy and -Hagenau.</p> - -<p>At tea some further particulars were given of the -last conference between the Chancellor and Jules Favre. -Favre was, it seems, informed that we could not communicate -to him the exact conditions of peace until they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[p. 198]</span> -had been settled at a conference of the German Powers -engaged in the war. No arrangement could be come to, -however, without a cession of territory, as it was absolutely -essential to us to have a better frontier as security -against French attack. The conference turned less upon -peace and its conditions than on the nature of French -concessions, in consideration of which we might agree to -an armistice. On the mention of a cession of territory -Favre became terribly excited, drew a deep sigh, raised -his eyes to heaven, and even shed some patriotic tears. -The Chief does not expect that he will return. Doubtless -an answer in this sense has been forwarded to the -Crown Prince, who telegraphed this morning to ask -whether he should attend the negotiations.</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, September 22nd, evening.</i>—The French -are indefatigable in denouncing us to the world as cruel -and destructive barbarians; and the English press—particularly -the <cite>Standard</cite>, which is notoriously hostile -to us—willingly lends them its assistance. The grossest -calumnies respecting our conduct towards the French -population and the prisoners in our hands are circulated -almost daily by that newspaper, and always purport to -come either from eye-witnesses or other well-informed -sources. Thus, for instance, the Duc de FitzJames -recently drew a horrible picture of the abominations of -which we had been guilty in Bazeilles, adding the -assurance that he exaggerated nothing; and a M. L., -who represents himself to be a French officer whom we -had captured at Sedan and subjected to ill-treatment, -complains in a lamentable tone of Prussian inhumanity. -Bernstorff sent the article in question to the Chief, with -the suggestion that the charges should be refuted. The -complaint of M. L. might, perhaps, be left to answer -itself, but that of the Duke is calculated to affect even<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[p. 199]</span> -those across the Channel who are disposed in our favour. -Besides, impudent calumny is always apt to leave some -traces behind it. A refutal of these shameful slanders is -accordingly being despatched to-day to certain London -newspapers that are friendly to us. As the greater part -of this communication was dictated by the Chief, it is -worthy of special attention.</p> - -<p>“In this war, as in every other, a great number of -villages have been burned down, mostly by artillery fire, -German as well as French. In these cases women and -children who had sought refuge in the cellars and had -not escaped in time, lost their lives in the flames. That -was also the case in Bazeilles, which was several times -stormed by our infantry. The Duc de FitzJames is only -an eye-witness so far as the ruins of the village are concerned, -which he saw after the battle, just as thousands -more saw and regretted its fate. All the rest of his -report is based on the stories of the unfortunate and -exasperated villagers. In a country where even the -Government has developed an unexampled talent for -systematic lying, it is not to be expected that angry -peasants, standing on the ruins of their homes, would -bear truthful witness against their enemies. It is established -by official reports that the inhabitants of Bazeilles, -not in uniform but in their blouses and shirt-sleeves, -fired out of their windows at our troops and wounded -soldiers, and that they killed whole batches of the latter -in their houses. It has been likewise proved that women -armed with knives and guns were guilty of the greatest -cruelty towards the fatally wounded, and that other -women, certainly not in the uniform of the National -Guards, took part in the fight with the male inhabitants, -loading their rifles and even firing themselves, and that, -like the other combatants, some of them were in these<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[p. 200]</span> -circumstances wounded or killed. Naturally these particulars -were not communicated to the Duc de FitzJames -by his informant. They would have fully excused -the burning of the village even if it had been done intentionally -with the object of forcing the enemy out of that -position. But there is no evidence of any such intention. -That women and children were driven back into the fire -is one of those infamous lies with which the French -terrorise the population, and incite their hatred against -us. In this way they cause the peasants to fly on our -approach. The latter return, however, as a rule, a few -days after the entrance of the Germans, and are astounded -to find that they are better treated by them than -by the French troops. When this sort of terrorism is -not sufficient to force the inhabitants to flight, the -Government sends a mob of armed civilians, sometimes -supported by African troops, to drive the peasants from -their homes at the point of the sword, and to burn down -their houses as a punishment for their want of patriotism. -The letter of ‘an imprisoned officer’ (Bouillon, September -9th) also contains more falsehood than truth. -With respect to the treatment of the prisoners, Germany -can call 150,000 better witnesses than this anonymous -and mendacious officer, whose whole communication is -merely an expression of the vindictive disposition which -will for a long time to come inspire the vain and arrogant -elements of the French people, by whom, unfortunately, -that country allows itself to be ruled and led. -From this spirit of revenge arises the certainty of further -attacks on the part of France, for which Germany must -be prepared. We are thus unquestionably compelled to -think solely of the security of our frontier in concluding -peace. It is true, as stated in the letter of this imprisoned -officer, M. L., that there was a scarcity of provisions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[p. 201]</span> -after the surrender of Sedan, not only for the prisoners, -but also for the victors, who shared with them what they -had. When their own stock was exhausted the prisoners -also had to do without. L.’s complaint that he had been -obliged to bivouac in the rain and mud furnishes the best -evidence that he is no officer, and has not even followed -the campaign up to that point. He is some hireling -scribe who has never left his own room, and one must -therefore assume that the man’s whole story of his imprisonment -is an invention; as, had he been an officer in -the field, he would have known that most of his comrades -(that is certainly the case with the Germans) have spent -at least thirty nights out of the forty or so that have -elapsed since the beginning of the war under similar -conditions. When it rained in the night they had to -lie in the rain, and when the ground was muddy -they had to lie in the mud. Only one who had -not followed the campaign could have any doubt -or manifest any surprise on that score. That M. L. -prides himself on having retained his leather purse -is the clearest proof that he was not plundered. There -can hardly be a single soldier, who, if he happens to -have money, does not carry it just as M. L. carried his, -and in just such a purse; so that if our men had wanted -his money, they must have known very well where to -find it. The few Germans who fell into French hands -can tell how quickly their opponents could open a -prisoner’s tunic, and if his purse was a little too firmly -fastened on, hack it off with their sabres or a knife, -without paying too much regard to his skin. We -declare the assertions respecting the ill-treatment of -prisoners at Sedan to be wilful and audacious lies. A -great number of the French prisoners, perhaps one-fourth, -were in a state of bestial drunkenness, having<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[p. 202]</span> -during the last few hours before the capitulation plundered -the wine and brandy stores in the town. It is -obvious that it is not so easy to manage men in a state -of drunkenness as when they are sober, but such ill-treatment -as the article describes occurred neither at -Sedan nor elsewhere, owing to the discipline which -prevails amongst the Prussian troops. It is well known -that this discipline has won the admiration of the -French officers themselves. Unfortunately one cannot -speak as highly of the French soldiers in this respect as -with regard to their gallantry in action. The French -officers have on several occasions been unable to prevent -their men from murdering severely wounded soldiers, -even when individual officers of high rank endeavoured -at the risk of their own lives to defend the wounded, -and that was not merely the case with African regiments. -It is known that the German prisoners who -were taken into Metz were spat upon and struck with -sticks and stones on their way through the streets, and -on their release had to run the gauntlet of a double line -of African soldiers, who beat them with canes and whips. -We can prove these facts by official records, which have -more claim to credence than the anonymous letter of -M. L. But are such things to be wondered at when -the newspapers of a city like Paris, which now implores -considerate treatment on the hypocritical plea of civilisation, -can propose, without eliciting the slightest -protest, that when the French troops are unable to take -our wounded with them they should split their heads -open; and further, that the Germans should be used like -dead wolves to manure their fields? The utter barbarism -of the French nation, covered with a thin veneer -of culture, has been fully disclosed in this war. French -insolence formerly said, ‘<span lang="fr">Grattez le Russe et vous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[p. 203]</span> -trouverez le barbare</span>.’ Whoever is in a position to -compare the conduct of the Russians towards their -enemies in the Crimean War with that of the French in -the present campaign, can have no doubt that this statement -recoils upon its authors.”</p> - -<p>When he had finished, the Minister added: “Write -to Bernstorff that I decline in future to notice any -suggestion for entering into a controversy with English -newspapers. The Ambassador must act on his own -responsibility.”</p> - -<p>Just as we sat down to table, one of the Court officials -announced that the Crown Prince proposed to come to -dinner and to stay for the night. The Prince’s secretary -at the time asked that the bureau and the large salon -next the Chancellor’s room, should be prepared for the -five gentlemen who accompanied his Royal Highness. -The Chief replied, “We cannot give up the bureau, as -we want it for our work.” He then placed his dressing -room at their disposal, and further proposed that -either Blumenthal or Eulenburg should sleep in his -bedroom. He required the salon for the reception of -the French negotiators and any Princes who might call -upon him. The Court official went off, pulling a long -face, and was impertinent enough to make some remarks -in the corridor about “discourtesy” and so forth.</p> - -<p>Count Lehndorff dined with us, and the conversation -was very lively. Some allusion having been made to -Frederick the Great’s statue in Unter den Linden, which -had been decorated with black, red and yellow flags, the -Minister condemned Wurmb for allowing this controversy -to be stirred up. “This stupid quarrel about the colours -should not have been reopened, and it once more proves -Wurmb’s incapacity. For me the question is settled -and done with since the North German flag has been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[p. 204]</span> -adopted. Otherwise this battle of colours is a matter -of indifference to me. As far as I am concerned they -may be green, yellow, and all the colours of a fancy -dress ball, or they can take the banner of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. -Only the Prussian soldier will have nothing -to do with the black, red, and yellow.”</p> - -<p>The Chief then spoke of the peace, which he still -considered remote, adding: “If they (the French -Government) go to Orleans, we shall follow them there, -and further—right down to the sea shore.” He read -out some telegrams, including one giving a list of the -troops in Paris. “There are supposed to be 180,000 men -in all, but there are hardly 60,000 real soldiers amongst -them. The mobile and national guards with their snuffboxes -(a reference to their obsolete weapons) are not to -be reckoned as soldiers.”</p> - -<p>I asked if I should telegraph about the report of -artillery and rifle-fire in the streets of Paris, which -people fancied they had heard. He said I was to do so. -“But not yet, I suppose, about the negotiations with -Favre?” “Yes,” he replied, and then went on as -follows: “First at Haute-Maison, near Montry, then the -same evening at Ferrières, and next day a third conversation, -but without effect, as regards the armistice and -the peace. Other French parties have also entered into -negotiations with us,” he said, and gave some indications -from which I gathered that he referred to the Empress -Eugénie.</p> - -<p>Something else led him to speak of his skill in -shooting. He said that as a young man he could hit -a sheet of paper with a pistol at a hundred yards, and -had shot off the heads of ducks in the pond.</p> - -<p>He then mentioned that he had again complained to -Treskow of the “short commons at the Royal table,” at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[p. 205]</span> -which Treskow pulled a long face. “But if I am to -work well I must have sufficient food. I cannot make a -proper peace if I do not get enough to eat and drink. -That’s a necessity of my trade, and therefore I prefer to -dine at home.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned on the dead languages—I -cannot now say how. “When I was in the first -class at the high school,” he said, “I was able to write -and speak Latin very well. I should now find it extremely -difficult; and I have quite forgotten Greek. I -cannot understand why people take so much trouble -with these languages. It must be merely because learned -men do not wish to lessen the value of what they have -themselves so laboriously acquired.” I ventured to -remind him of the mental discipline thus provided. The -Chief replied, “Yes; but if you think Greek is a <i lang="la">disciplina -mentis</i>, the Russian language is far better in -that respect. It might be introduced instead of Greek—and -it has immediate practical value in addition.”</p> - -<p>We then spoke of the way in which the Schleswig-Holstein -question was treated by the Bundestag in the -fifties. Count Bismarck-Bohlen, who had come in in -the meantime, remarked that those debates must have -been dull enough to send every one to sleep. “Yes,” -said the Chief, “in Frankfurt they slept over the -negotiations with their eyes open. Altogether it was a -sleepy and insipid crowd, and things only became endurable -after I had added the pepper.” He then told us a -delightful story about Count Rechberg, who was at that -time Austrian Minister to the Bundestag. “On one -occasion he said something to me which I was obliged -to answer very roughly. He replied that unless I withdrew -my words it would be a case of going out on to -the Bockenheimer Haide (a place where it was customary<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[p. 206]</span> -to settle affairs of honour). ‘I never withdraw my -words,’ said I, carelessly, ‘so we must settle it in that -way, and it occurs to me that the garden down stairs -would be a very suitable place. But in order that -people may not think that I represent my King pistol -in hand, without further ceremony I shall write down here -the cause of our quarrel. After you have read it over -you will sign it, and thus testify to its correctness. In -the meantime there is one of our officers lodging here -who will oblige me, and you can choose one of your own -officers.’ I rang the bell and sent word to the officer, -requesting him to call upon me; and then went on -writing while Rechberg strode up and down the room—and -gluck, gluck, gluck (here the Minister mimicked the -act of drinking) he swallowed one glass of water after -another. Of course not because he was afraid, but -because he was considering whether he ought not first -to ask permission of his Government. I quietly -continued to write. The officer came and said he would -gladly oblige me. I begged him to wait a moment. -On my return Rechberg said he would think over the -matter until morning, to which I agreed. As I did not -hear from him next day, however, I sent the Mecklenburg -Minister, old Oertzen, to deliver a formal challenge. -Oertzen was told he was not at home. He went again -next day, but Rechberg was still not to be seen. He -had evidently written to Vienna and was waiting for an -answer. At length Oertzen came to me after having -spoken to him. Rechberg was prepared to withdraw -what he had said and offer an apology, either in writing -or verbally, just as I liked. He would also come to me -if I wished. I went to his place, however, and the -affair was settled.”</p> - -<p>I asked him then about the celebrated story of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[p. 207]</span> -cigars. “Which do you mean?” “Why, about the -cigar which you lit, Excellency, when Rechberg was -smoking in your presence.” “Thun, you mean. Yes, -that was very simple. I went to him while he was at -work, and he was smoking. He begged me to excuse -him for a moment. I waited a while and finding it -rather slow, as he did not offer me a cigar, I took one of -my own and asked him for a light—which he gave me -with rather a surprised look. But I have another story -of the same kind. At the sittings of the Military -Commission, when Rochow represented Prussia at the -Bundestag, Austria was the only one who smoked. -Rochow, who was passionately addicted to smoking, -would gladly have done the same, but had not sufficient -confidence. When I came I also felt a longing for a -cigar, and as I could not see why I should deny myself -I begged the presiding power to give me a light, -apparently much to his and the other gentlemen’s -astonishment and displeasure. It was evidently an -event for them all. For the time being only Austria -and Prussia smoked. But the remaining gentlemen -obviously considered the matter of so much importance -that they wrote home for instructions as to how they -were to act in the circumstances. The authorities were -in no hurry. The affair was one that demanded careful -consideration, and for nearly six months the two great -Powers smoked alone. Then Schrenkh, the Bavarian -Minister, began to assert the dignity of his office by -lighting his weed. Nostitz, the Saxon, had certainly a -great desire to do the same, but had probably not yet -received the permission of his Minister. On seeing -Bothmer, of Hanover, however, allow himself that -liberty, Nostitz, who was strongly Austrian in his sympathies, -having sons in the Austrian army, must have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[p. 208]</span> -come to an understanding with Rechberg, with the result -that he too at the next sitting pulled out his cigar case -and puffed away with the rest. Only the representatives -of Würtemberg and Darmstadt now remained, and -they were non-smokers. The honour and dignity of -their States, however, imperiously demanded that they -should follow suit, and so as a matter of fact the -Würtemberger pulled out a cigar at the next sitting—I -can still see it in my mind’s eye, a long, thin, yellow -thing of the colour of rye straw—and smoked at least -half of it as a burnt-offering on the altar of patriotism. -Hesse-Darmstadt was the only one who finally refrained—probably -conscious that he was not strong enough to -enter into rivalry with the others.”<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> - -<p><i>Friday, September 23rd.</i>—Beautiful weather this -morning. I took a walk in the park before the Chief -got up. On my return I met Keudell, who called out -“War! A letter from Favre rejecting our demands. -The Chief has given instructions to communicate the -letter to the press with certain comments, hinting that -the present occupant of Wilhelmshöhe is after all not so -bad and might be of use to us.”</p> - -<p>The conversation afterwards turned on Pomeranian -affairs, and the Chief spoke amongst other things of the -great estate of Schmoldin. The former proprietor had -become bankrupt through treating the people on the -estate—mostly Slav fishermen and sailors—with too -much consideration. The place, which consisted of -about 8,000 acres of arable land, and 12,000 to 16,000 -acres of forest and downs, worth at least 200,000 -thalers, was purchased by the Royal Treasury for -80,000 thalers. The change of proprietors had not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[p. 209]</span> -benefited the tenants, as there was no question of forbearance -or abatements. Many of them have fallen -into a state of pauperism, and instead of being provided -for by the Royal Treasury, they have become a burden -on the local authorities. That is not as it ought to be. -It was believed that Obstfelder was to blame for this -hard and unfair treatment.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, September 24th.</i>—The Minister spoke at -dinner about the ostentatious decorations of the great -hall of the château, which he had now seen for the first -time. Amongst other things it contains a throne or -table which some French marshal or general inadvertently -packed up with his baggage somewhere in China, -or Cochin China, and afterwards sold to our Baron. The -Chief’s verdict was:—“All extremely costly, but not -particularly beautiful, and still less comfortable.” He -then continued:—“A ready-made property like this -would not give me any genuine satisfaction. It was -made by others, and not by myself. True, there are -many things in it really beautiful, but one misses the -pleasure of creating and altering. It is also quite a -different thing when I have to ask myself if I can afford -to spend five or ten thousand thalers on this or that -improvement, and when there is no need to think about -the cost. In the end it must become tiresome to have -always enough and more than enough.”</p> - -<p>In an article written this evening we returned to -our good friends the French Ultramontanes, who are as -active in war as they had been in peace in opposing the -German cause, inciting people against us, circulating lies -about us in the newspapers, and even leading the -peasants to take up arms against our troops, as at -Beaumont and Bazeilles.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, September 25th.</i>—At table we somehow<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[p. 210]</span> -came to discuss the Jews. “They have no real home,” -said the Chief. “They are international—Europeans, -cosmopolitans, nomads. Their fatherland is Zion, -Jerusalem. Otherwise they are citizens of the whole -world, and hold together everywhere. There are -amongst them some good, honest people, as for -instance one at our own place in Pomerania, who -traded in hides and such things. Business cannot have -prospered with him, as he became bankrupt. He -begged of me not to press my claim, and promised -that he would pay by instalments, when he could. -Yielding to my old habit, I agreed, and he actually -paid off the debt. I received instalments from him -while I was still in Frankfurt as Minister to the -Bundestag, and I believe that if I lost anything at all, -I must have lost less than his other creditors. Certainly -not many such Jews are to be met with in our large -towns. They have also their own special virtues. They -are credited with respect for their parents, faithfulness -in marriage, and benevolence.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, September 26th.</i>—In the morning wrote -various paragraphs for the press on the following theme: -It is urged that we cannot be allowed to bombard Paris, -with its numerous museums, beautiful public buildings -and monuments; that to do so would be a crime against -civilisation. But why not? Paris is a fortress, and if -it has been filled with treasures of art, if it possesses -magnificent palaces and other beautiful structures, that -does not alter this character. A fortress is an instrument -for warlike operations which must be rendered powerless -without regard to whatever else may be bound up with -it. If the French wanted to preserve their monuments -and collections of books and pictures from the dangers -of war they should not have surrounded them with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[p. 211]</span> -fortifications. Besides, the French themselves did not -hesitate for a moment to bombard Rome, which contained -monuments of far greater value, the destruction -of which would be an irretrievable loss. Also sent off -an article on the bellicose tendencies of the French -Radicals previous to the declaration of war, for use in our -newspapers in Alsace.</p> - -<p>At dinner, as we were discussing military matters, -the Chief declared, <i lang="la">inter alia</i>, that the uhlans were the -best cavalry. The lance gave the men great self-confidence. -It was urged that it was a hindrance in -getting through underwood, but that was a mistake. -On the contrary, the lance was useful in moving aside -the branches. He knew that from experience, as, -although he first served in the rifles, he was afterwards -in the Landwehr cavalry. The abolition of the lance -in the entire mounted Landwehr was a blunder. The -curved sabre was not much use, particularly as it was -often blunt. The straight thrusting sword was much -more practical.</p> - -<p>After dinner a letter was received from Favre, in -which he requested, first, that notice should be given of -the commencement of the bombardment of Paris, in order -that the diplomatic corps might remove; and, second, -that the city should be permitted to remain in communication -with the outer world by letter. Abeken -said, as he brought the letter down from the Chief’s -room, that the answer would be sent by way of Brussels. -“But then the letter will arrive late or not at all, and -be returned to us,” observed Keudell. “Well, that -does not matter,” answered Abeken. From the further -conversation it appears that the answer agrees to the -French proposals under certain conditions.</p> - -<p>In the evening I was again called to the Chief on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[p. 212]</span> -several occasions to take instructions. Amongst other -things, I ascertained that, “while Favre’s report -respecting his interviews with the Chancellor shows, it -is true, a desire to give a faithful account of what passed, -it is not quite accurate, which is not surprising in the -circumstances, especially as there were three different -meetings.” In his statement the question of an armistice -occupies a secondary position, whereas, in fact, it was -the chief point. Favre was prepared to pay a considerable -cash indemnity. In the matter of a truce two -alternatives were discussed. First, the surrender to us -of a portion of the fortifications of Paris, namely, at a -point which would give us the command of the city, we -on our part to allow free communication with the outer -world. The second was that we should forego that -condition, but that Strassburg and Toul should be surrendered -to us. We put forward the latter demand -because the retention of these towns in the hands of -the French increases our difficulties of commissariat -transport. The Chancellor stated that with respect to -a cession of territory, he could only disclose its extent -and frontiers when our demand had been accepted in -principle. On Favre requesting to have at least an -indication of what we proposed in this respect, he was -informed that for our security in the future we required -Strassburg, “the key of our house,” the departments of -the Upper and Lower Rhine, Metz, and a portion of the -Moselle department. The object of the armistice was -to submit the question of peace to a National Assembly -to be summoned for the purpose.</p> - -<p>Again called to the Chief. “The King wishes to -see some of the newspapers, and he desires to have the -most important passages marked. I have proposed -Brass to him, and when the papers come, put that one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[p. 213]</span> -(the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung</cite>) always aside -for him.” He added, smiling, “Just mark some places -for the sake of appearances, it does not much matter -what, and send me up the paper.”</p> - -<p>At tea we hear a great piece of news:—the Italians -have occupied Rome, the Pope and the diplomatists -remaining in the Vatican.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, September 27th.</i>—Bölsing, on the Chief’s -instructions, shows me the answer to Favre’s letter, -which the Minister has rewritten in a shorter and more -positive form. It says, 1. It is not usual in war to -announce the commencement of an attack; 2. A -besieged fortress does not appear to be a suitable -residence for diplomatists; open letters containing -nothing objectionable will be allowed to pass. It is -hoped that the <i lang="fr">corps diplomatique</i> will agree with this -view of the matter. They can go to Tours, whither it -would appear the French Government also intends to -remove. The answer is written in German, a course -already begun by Bernstorff, but which was carried out -more consistently by Bismarck. “Formerly,” said -Bölsing, “most of the Secretaries in the Foreign Office -belonged to the French colony, of which Roland and -Delacroix still remain. Almost all the Councillors also -wrote in that language. Even the register of the -despatches was kept in French, and the Ambassadors -usually reported in that language.” Now the speech of -the “vile Gaul,” as Count Bohlen calls the French, is -only used in exceptional cases, that is, in communicating -with Governments and Ambassadors to whom we cannot -write or reply in their mother tongue. The registers -have for years past been kept in German.</p> - -<p>The Chief has been at work since 8 o’clock in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[p. 214]</span> -morning—unusually early for him. He has again been -unable to sleep.</p> - -<p>Prince Radziwill and Knobelsdorff, of the general -staff, joined us at dinner. In speaking of that part of -Favre’s report in which he says that he wept, the -Minister thinks he can only have pretended to do so. -“It is true,” he said, “that he looked as if he had done -so, and I tried to some extent to console him. On my -observing him more closely, however, I felt quite -certain that he had not succeeded in squeezing out a -single tear. It was all merely a piece of acting on his -part. He thought to work upon me in the same manner -as a Parisian lawyer tries to move a jury. I am -perfectly convinced that he was painted at Ferrières—particularly -at the second interview. That morning he -looked much greyer and quite green under the eyes—I -am prepared to bet that it was paint—grey and green, -to give himself an appearance of deep suffering. It is, -of course, possible that he was deeply affected; but then -he can be no politician or he would know that pity has -nothing to do with politics.” After a while the -Minister added: “When I hinted something about -Strassburg and Metz, he assumed a look as if he thought -I was jesting. I could have given him, the answer -which the great fur dealer of Unter den Linden in -Berlin once gave me. I went there to choose a fur coat, -and on his naming a very high price for one to which I -had taken a fancy, I said, ‘Surely you are joking.’ -‘No,’ he replied, ‘I never make jokes in business.’”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned upon the occupation -of Rome and the Pope’s position in the Vatican, on -which point the Chief said, amongst other things: “He -must remain a Sovereign. The only question is, how?<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[p. 215]</span> -It would be possible to do more for him if the Ultramontanes -were not so much opposed to us everywhere. -I am accustomed to pay people back in their own coin. -I should like to know how our Harry (von Arnim, the -North German Ambassador to the Holy See) now feels. -Probably, like his reports, his feelings change three -times within the twenty-four hours. He is really too -distinguished an Ambassador for such a small Sovereign. -The Pope, however, is not merely the ruler of the Papal -States, he is also the head of the Catholic Church.”</p> - -<p>After dinner, just as we had finished our coffee, the -American general, Burnside, who had called whilst we -were at table, presented himself again, accompanied by -an elderly gentleman who wore a red woollen shirt and a -paper collar. The general, a rather tall, portly -gentleman, with thick, bushy eyebrows, and an exceptionally -fine set of beautifully white teeth and close-cut, -mutton-chop whiskers, might pass for an elderly -Prussian major in plain clothes. The Chief sat with -him on the sofa, and had a lively conversation in -English over a couple of glasses of kirschwasser, which -were afterwards replenished. Prince Radziwill, in the -meantime, had a talk with the general’s companion.</p> - -<p>After the Minister had observed to his visitor that he -had come rather late to see the fighting, he went on to -say that in July we had not the least desire for war, and -that when we were surprised by the declaration of hostilities, -no one, neither the King nor the people, had -thought of any conquests. Our army was an excellent -one for a war of defence, but it would be difficult to use -it for schemes of aggrandisement, because with us the -army was the people itself, which did not lust after -glory, as it required and wished for peace. But for that -very reason both popular sentiment and the press now<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[p. 216]</span> -demanded a better frontier. For the sake of the maintenance -of peace we must secure ourselves in future -against attack from a vainglorious and covetous nation, -and that security could only be found in a better defensive -position than we had hitherto had. Burnside seemed -inclined to agree, and he praised very highly our -excellent organisation and the gallantry of our troops.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, September 28th</i>.—The general conversation -at dinner gradually adopted a more serious tone. -The Chancellor began by complaining that Voigts-Rhetz -in his report had not said a single word about the -gallant charge of the two regiments of dragoon guards -at Mars la Tour, which nevertheless he himself had -ordered, and which had saved the 10th Army Corps. -“It was necessary—I grant that; but then it ought -not to have been passed over in silence.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then began a lengthy speech, which -ultimately assumed the character of a dialogue between -himself and Katt. Pointing to a spot of grease on the -table-cloth, the Chief remarked: “Just in the same way -as that spot spreads and spreads, so the feeling that it is -beautiful to die for one’s country and honour, even without -recognition, sinks deeper into the skin of the people -now that it has been bathed in blood—it spreads wider -and wider.... Yes, yes, the non-commissioned officer -has the same views and the same sense of duty as the -lieutenant and the colonel—with us Germans. That -feeling in general goes very deep through all classes -of the nation.... The French are a mass that can -easily be brought under one influence, and then they -produce a great effect. Amongst our people everybody -has his own opinion. But when once a large number -of Germans come to hold the same opinion, great things -can be done with them. If they were all agreed they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[p. 217]</span> -would be all-powerful.... The French have not that -sense of duty which enables a man to allow himself to -be shot dead alone in the dark. And that comes from -the remnant of faith which still abides in our people; it -comes from the knowledge that there is Someone there -Who sees me even if my lieutenant does not see me.”</p> - -<p>“Do you believe that the soldiers reflect on such -things, Excellency?” asked Fürstenstein.</p> - -<p>“‘Reflect?’ no. It is a feeling—a frame of mind; an -instinct, if you like. When once they reflect they lose -that feeling; they argue themselves out of it.... I -cannot conceive how men can live together in an orderly -manner, how one can do his duty and allow others to do -theirs without faith in a revealed religion, in God, Who -wills what is right, in a higher Judge and a future -life.”</p> - -<p>The Grand Duke of Weimar was announced. But the -Minister continued, it might well be for a quarter of -an hour longer, at times suddenly departing from his -proper theme, and frequently repeating the same idea in -other words: “If I were no longer a Christian I would -not serve the King another hour.</p> - -<p>“If I did not put my trust in God I should certainly -place none in any earthly masters. Why, I had quite -enough to live on, and had a sufficiently distinguished -position. Why should I labour and toil unceasingly -in this world, and expose myself to worry and vexation -if I did not feel that I must do my duty towards God?<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[p. 218]</span><a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> -If I did not believe in a Divine Providence which has -ordained this German nation to something good and -great, I would at once give up my trade as a Statesman -or I should never have gone into the business. -Orders and titles have no attraction for me. A resolute -faith in a life after death—for that reason I am a -Royalist, otherwise I am by nature a Republican. -Yes, I am a Republican in the highest degree; and the -firm determination which I have displayed for ten long -years in presence of all possible forms of absurdity at -Court is solely due to my resolute faith. Deprive me -of this faith and you deprive me of my fatherland. If -I were not a firm believer in Christianity, if I had not -the wonderful basis of religion, you would never have -had such a Chancellor of the Confederation. If I had -not the wonderful basis of religion I should have turned -my back to the whole Court—and if you are able to -find me a successor who has that basis I will retire at -once. But I am living amongst heathens. I do not -want to make any proselytes, but I feel a necessity to -confess this faith.”</p> - -<p>Katt said that the ancients had also shown much -self-sacrifice and devotion. They also had the love of -country, which had spurred them on to great deeds. -He was convinced that many people nowadays acted in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[p. 219]</span> -the same way through devotion to the State, and a -sense of duty to society.</p> - -<p>The Chief replied that this self-sacrifice and devotion -to duty towards the State and the King amongst -us was merely a remnant of the faith of our fathers and -grandfathers in an altered form,—“more confused, and -yet active, no longer faith, but nevertheless faithful.” -“How willingly would I go away! I enjoy country life, -the woods and nature. Sever my connection with God -and I am a man who would pack up to-morrow and be -off to Varzin, and say ‘Kiss my ——,’ and cultivate his -oats. You would then deprive me of my King, because -why?—if there is no Divine commandment, why should -I subordinate myself to these Hohenzollerns? They are -a Suabian family, no better than my own, and in that -case no concern of mine. Why, I should be worse than -Jacoby, who might then be accepted as President or -even as King. He would be in many ways more sensible, -and at all events cheaper.”</p> - -<p>Keudell told me this evening that the Chief had -already, while standing outside the château, several -times expressed himself in a similar manner.</p> - -<p>After dinner the Chancellor received in his own -salon the Grand Duke of Weimar, as also Reynier, -and subsequently Burnside and his companion of the -day before.</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, September 29th.</i>—In the morning wrote -articles on the folly of certain German newspapers that -warned us against laying claim to Metz and the surrounding -district because the inhabitants spoke French, -and on Ducrot’s unpardonable escape during the transport -of prisoners to Germany. The second article was -also sent to England.</p> - -<p>The newspapers contain a report on the prevailing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[p. 220]</span> -public sentiment in Bavaria, which evidently comes from -a thoroughly reliable and highly competent source.<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> We -are accordingly to note the principal points contained -therein. The news given in the report is for the most -part satisfactory—in some particulars only is it possible -to wish it were better. The idea of German unity has -evidently been strengthened and extended by the war, -but the specific Bavarian <i lang="fr">amour propre</i> has also increased. -The part taken by the army in the victories -of the German forces at Wörth and Sedan, as well as the -severe losses which it has suffered, has not failed to -excite enthusiasm throughout all classes of the population, -and to fill them with pride at the achievements of -their countrymen. They are convinced that their King -sincerely desires the victory of the German arms, and -has used every effort to secure that end. His immediate -<i lang="fr">entourage</i> is well disposed. That cannot however -be said of all his Ministers. The Minister of War is -without doubt sincerely anxious, and is doing his utmost -to see the campaign brought to a satisfactory conclusion. -He is in that respect thoroughly reliable, and he will -no doubt be found on the right side in the matter of -the conditions of peace. Count Bray, on the other hand, -is and remains ultramontane and Austrian in his views. -In his heart of hearts he is opposed to the war, and for -him our successes have been too rapid, and our victories -too complete. He would like to see the neutral Powers -take steps to restrain us, and if he could he would -support such measures.</p> - -<p>No conclusion is to be drawn from the very confident -tone of the press as to an eventual rearrangement of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[p. 221]</span> -German relations which, through the brotherhood in -arms during the war, might develop into a permanent -and closer union also in times of peace. As a matter -of course Bray would be opposed to the entrance of -Bavaria into the North German Confederation. But -there are also other influential personages who do not -contemplate such a course, or who regard the effective -co-operation of the Bavarians in the German victories -less as a means to promote the closer union of Germany -than as a proof of the power of Bavaria and an assertion -of her independence. The non-ultramontane -particularists take up a somewhat similar position. -They are pleased at our victories and proud of Bavaria’s -share in them. They admire the manner in which the -Prussians conduct the war, and, like us, they desire to -secure Germany against future attack from the West. -But they will not hear of Bavaria joining the North -German Confederation. The partition of the conquered -French territory is also much discussed in such circles. -They would like to see Alsace annexed to Baden on condition -that the Baden Palatinate were ceded to Bavaria. -The more penetrating minds amongst them are forced to -reckon with the probability that Baden, and in all -likelihood also Würtemberg, will after the peace demand -admission into the Federal State already formed -by the North. The Ultramontanes remain what they -always were, although they are now silent through fear. -Fortunately they have lost all confidence in Austria, so -that they lack support, while, on the other hand, the -Bavarians, who are now in the field, have an entirely -different opinion of the Prussians to that which they -entertained before the war. They are full of the highest -praise for their northern comrades, and not merely for -their military qualities and achievements, but also for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[p. 222]</span> -their readiness to help the Bavarians when they have -earlier or better supplies than the latter. More than -one of them has written home that their priests have -maligned the Prussians. It is not true that they are all -Lutherans. Many of them are Catholics, and they had -even seen some Catholic military chaplains with them. -As the officers share these feelings the army on its -return will carry on an effective propaganda against -Ultramontanism, and probably also against extreme particularism. -It will be easily understood that men of -national sentiment in Bavaria should feel more confident -than ever. They will also do what they can for -the cause. But they are a minority in the Lower -Chamber, and in the Upper House they have scarcely -two or three representatives.</p> - -<p>At dinner the conversation turned on the Grand -Duke of Weimar and such matters. The Minister said -that the Grand Duke had been to see him the evening -before, and wished to obtain some information which he -(the Chief) was unable to give him. “He thinks that -I am also <em>his</em> Chancellor. On my politely declining, he -said he must then apply to the King. ‘Yes,’ I replied, -‘but in that case his Majesty will have to refer in the -first place to his Minister.’ ‘And the Minister?’ (Here -the Chief bent his head a little to one side and smiled -sweetly.) ‘He will maintain an impenetrable silence.”’</p> - -<p>The Chancellor then said that he had been asked what -was to be done with the Garde Mobiles captured at -Strassburg. They were disposed to set them at liberty -and let them go home. “God forbid,” said I; “send -them to Upper Silesia.”</p> - -<p><i>Friday, September 30th.</i>—Received another letter -from Bamberger, who is in Baden-Baden. He continues -to use his talents and influence in the press to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[p. 223]</span> -advance the Chancellor’s views. In my answer I -begged him to counteract the ill-considered arguments -of certain German journalists who now, while we are -still at war, and have hardly done the heaviest part -of our task, are already strongly urging moderation. -The worst of these is <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Kruse, of the <cite lang="de">Kölnische -Zeitung</cite>, with whom the idea that Metz must not be -annexed because the inhabitants speak French has -become almost a monomania. These gentlemen offer -their advice as to how far we can or may go in our -demands, and plead in favour of France, while they -would do much better to insist upon still heavier -demands, “in order,” as the Minister said in complaining -of this being “preposterous” behaviour, -“that we may at least get something decent, if not -all that we ask for. They will compel me in the end -to claim the Meuse as our frontier. Write also to -Bamberger that I had credited him with more -political acumen than to imagine that we really want -to replace Napoleon on the French throne.”</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, October 2nd.</i>—At teatime to a remark that -the poorer classes suffered comparatively more than the -upper and wealthier, the Chief replied that this reminded -him of Sheridan’s observation at Reims, for it was -perhaps after all as well it should be so, as there were -more poor people than well-to-do, and we must always -keep in mind the object of the war, which was to secure -an advantageous peace. The more Frenchmen suffered -from the war the greater would be the number of those -who would long for peace, whatever our conditions might -be. “And their treacherous franctireurs,” he continued, -“who now stand in blouses with their hands in their -pockets, and in the next moment when our soldiers have -passed by take their rifles out of the ditch and fire at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[p. 224]</span> -them. It will come to this, that we will shoot down -every male inhabitant. Really that would be no worse -than in battle, where they fire at a distance of 2,000 -yards, and cannot recognise each other’s faces.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned on Russia, on the -communistic measure of dividing the land between the -village communities, on the minor nobility, “who had -invested their savings in the purchase of peasants, out -of whom they squeezed their interest in the form of -Obrok,” and of the incredible wealth of many of the old -Boyar families. The Chief mentioned several examples, -and gave a full account of the Yussupoffs, whose fortune, -although nearly half of it had been several times confiscated -on account of their complicity in conspiracies, -was still much larger than that of most German Princes. -It was so great that “two serfs, father and son, who had -acted in succession as managers of the estate, were able -to bleed it of three millions without the loss being felt.” -“The palace of these princes in St. Petersburg contained -a large theatre in the style of the Weisser Saal in the -palace at Berlin, and had magnificent rooms in which -300 to 400 persons could dine with comfort. Forty -years ago the old Yussupoff kept open table daily. A -poor old officer on the retired list had dined there almost -every day for years, although no one knew who he was. -The name and rank of their constant guest was only -discovered on inquiries being made of the police when -on one occasion he had remained away for a considerable -time.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, October 3rd.</i>—We were joined at table by -the Grand Chamberlain, Perponcher, and a Herr von -Thadden, who was to be appointed a member of the -Administration at Reims. The Chief told several anecdotes -of the old Rothschild of Frankfurt. He had on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[p. 225]</span> -one occasion heard Rothschild talking to a corn-dealer -who wanted to buy some wheat. The latter said that -such a rich man ought not to put the price of wheat so -high. “What have my riches got to do with it?” -replied the old gentleman. “Is my wheat any the worse -because I am rich?” “He gave dinners however which -did all honour to his wealth. I remember once when -the present King, then Prince of Prussia, was in Frankfurt -and I invited him to dinner. Rothschild had also -intended to invite him. The Prince told him, however, -that he must settle that with me, otherwise he would -be quite as pleased to dine with him as with me. -Rothschild then wanted me to give up his Royal -Highness to him. I refused, whereupon he had the -<i lang="fr">naïveté</i> to propose that his dinner should be brought to -my house, as of course he did not partake of it himself—he -only ate meat prepared in Jewish fashion. -Naturally I also declined this proposal, although there -can be no doubt that his dinner would have been better -than mine.” The Chief was once told by old Metternich,—“who, -by the way, was very well disposed towards -me,”—that at one time when he had lodged with -Rothschild, on his way to Johannisberg (Metternich’s -estate), his host had put six bottles of Johannisberg -wine into his lunch basket for the road. These were -taken out unopened on Metternich’s arrival at Johannisberg, -where the Prince asked his chief cellarer what they -cost per bottle. “Twelve florins,” was the answer. -“Well then,” said Metternich, “send these six bottles -back to Baron Rothschild when he gives his next order, -but charge him fifteen florins a piece for them then, as -they will have grown older by that time.”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, October 4th.</i>—In the forenoon again called -to the Chief Bucher, Councillor of Embassy; and Wiehr,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[p. 226]</span> -a decipherer, arrived after lunch. Bucher appears to -have been summoned here in order to replace Abeken, -who has been ill and ought to have gone home, but who -has now nearly recovered. No one could have filled his -place better than Bucher, who is unquestionably the -best informed, most intelligent and unprejudiced of all -the principal workers by whom the Chief is surrounded, -and who help to propagate his ideas. In the evening -the Chancellor talked about Moltke, remarking how -gallantly he had attacked the punch bowl on a recent -occasion, and in what excellent spirits he was. “I have -not seen him looking so well for a long time past. That -is the result of the war. It is his trade. I remember, -when the Spanish question became acute, he looked ten -years younger. Afterwards, when I told him that the -Hohenzollern had withdrawn, he suddenly looked quite -old and infirm. And when the French showed their -teeth again ‘Molk’ was once more fresh and young. -The matter finally ended in a <i lang="fr">diner à trois</i>—Molk, -Roon and I—which resulted (here the Chancellor smiled -a cunning smile) in the Ems telegram.”</p> - -<p>We start early to-morrow morning, as we have a long -journey to make. Our next halt will be at Versailles.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[p. 227]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="9">IX</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">THE JOURNEY TO VERSAILLES—MADAME JESSE’S HOUSE, -AND OUR LIFE THERE</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara">We left Ferrières about 7 o’clock on the morning of -the 5th of October. At first we drove along by-roads, -which were however in excellent condition, passing a -large wood, several parks and châteaux and a number of -respectable villages that appeared to be entirely deserted -by their inhabitants and were now occupied solely by -German soldiers. Everywhere an appearance of exceptional -prosperity. Later on we reached a pontoon -bridge decorated with the Prussian colours, which took -us over the Seine. On the other side we met the -Crown Prince and his suite, who had ridden out to -welcome the King. The latter, accompanied by the -Chancellor, was to proceed from this point on horseback -to a review of troops. We then drove on alone, -turning into a high road which led to the village of -Villeneuve le Roi.</p> - -<p>I had long been looking forward to my first glimpse -of Paris. It was however out off on the right by a -rather high range of wooded hills, on the sides of which -we now and then, noticed a village or small white town. -At length we come to an opening, a little valley, and -we observe the blue outline of a great cupola—the -Pantheon! Hurrah! we are at last outside Paris.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[p. 228]</span></p> - -<p>We shortly afterwards turned into a broad paved -highway where a Bavarian picket was stationed to -watch a road which crossed it at this point and led -towards Paris. To the left an extensive plain, and on -the right a continuation of the chain of wooded heights. -A white town half way up the slope, then, lower down, -two other villages, and we finally pass through an iron -gateway partially gilt, traverse some busy streets, and a -straight avenue with old trees, and then find ourselves -in front of our quarters in Versailles.</p> - -<p>On the 6th of October, the day after our arrival in -the old royal town of France, Keudell remarked that -we might possibly remain here for some three weeks. -Nor did I think it improbable, as the course of the war -up to that time had accustomed us to speedy success. -We remained however five long months. But, as will -be seen later on, the Minister must have suspected that -our stay would not be a short one. For this reason, and -as our lodging was the scene of very important events, -a fuller description of it will probably be welcome.</p> - -<p>The house which was occupied by the Chancellor of -the Confederation belonged to one Madame Jesse, widow -of a wealthy cloth manufacturer, who shortly before our -arrival fled to Picardy with her two sons, leaving her -property to the care of her gardener and his wife. It -is No. 14 in Rue de Provence, which connects the -Avenue de St. Cloud with the Boulevard de la Reine. -The Rue de Provence is one of the quietest in Versailles. -Many of the houses are surrounded by gardens. Ours -is a slate-roofed house of three stories, the third of these -being a garret. From the entrance in the courtyard a -flight of stone steps leads up to the hall door. On the -right of this hall is the principal staircase, and the -following rooms open on to it; the dining-room looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[p. 229]</span> -out on the garden, the salon, a billiard-room, a conservatory, -and the library of the deceased <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Jesse.</p> - -<p>On the table in the salon stood an old-fashioned -chimney clock with a fiendish figure in bronze biting -his thumb. This demon grinned sarcastically at all the -negotiations which led to the treaties with the South -German States, the proclamation of the German -Emperor and Empire, and afterwards to the surrender -of Paris and the preliminaries of peace, all of which -were signed in this salon, thus securing it a place in the -world’s history.</p> - -<p>The billiard-room was arranged as an office for the -councillors, secretaries, and decipherers. In January, -when there was a severe frost, a portion of the winter -garden was assigned to the officers on guard. The -library was occupied by orderlies and Chancery -attendants.</p> - -<p>The principal staircase led to a second hall, which -received a dim light from a square flat window let into -the roof. The doors of the Minister’s two rooms opened -off this hall. Neither of them was more than ten paces -by seven. One of these, the window of which opened -on the garden, served at the same time as study and -bed-chamber, and was very scantily furnished.</p> - -<p>The other chamber, which was somewhat better -furnished, although not at all luxuriously, served, in -addition to the salon on the ground floor, for the reception -of visitors. During the negotiations for the -capitulation of Paris it was put at the disposal of Jules -Favre for his meditations and correspondence.</p> - -<p>Count Bismarck-Bohlen had a room to the left of -the Chancellor’s, which also opened on the park and -garden, Abeken having the opposite room looking on the -street. Bölsing had a small chamber near the back-stairs,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[p. 230]</span> -while I was lodged on the second floor over -Bohlen’s room.</p> - -<p>The park behind the house, though not large, was -very pretty, and there during the bright autumn nights -the tall figure and white cap of the Chancellor was -frequently to be seen passing from the shade into the -moonlight as he slowly strolled about. What was the -sleepless man pondering over? What ideas were revolving -through the mind of that solitary wanderer? -What plans were forming or ripening in his brain -during those still midnight hours?</p> - -<p>It will be seen that the whole Field Foreign Office -was not quartered at Madame Jesse’s. Lothar Bucher -had a handsome apartment in the Avenue de Paris, -Keudell and the decipherers were lodged in a house -somewhat higher up than ours in the Rue de Provence, -and Count Hatzfeldt lived in the last house on the -opposite side of the way. There was some talk on -several occasions of providing the Chancellor with more -roomy and better furnished lodgings, but the matter -went no further, possibly because he himself felt no -great desire for such a change, and perhaps also because -he liked the quiet which prevailed in the comparatively -retired Rue de Provence.</p> - -<p>During the day, however, this stillness was less -idyllic than many newspaper correspondents described -it at the time. I am not thinking of the fifes and -drums of the troops that marched through the town -and which reached our ears almost daily, nor of the -noise which resulted from two sorties made by the -Parisians in our direction, nor even of the hottest day -of the bombardment, as we had become accustomed to -all that, much as the miller does to the roar and rattle -of his wheels. I refer principally to the numerous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[p. 231]</span> -visitors of all kinds, many of them unwelcome, who -were received by the Chancellor during those eventful -months. Our quarters was often like a pigeon house -from the constant flow of strangers and acquaintances -in and out. At first non-official eavesdroppers and -messengers came from Paris, followed later by official -negotiators in the persons of Favre and Thiers, accompanied -by a larger or smaller retinue. There were -princely visitors from the Hôtel des Reservoirs. The -Crown Prince came several times, and the King once. -The Church was also represented amongst the callers -by high dignitaries, archbishops, and other prelates. -Deputations from the Reichstag, individual party -leaders, higher officials, and bankers arrived from -Berlin, while Ministers came from Bavaria and other -South German States for the purpose of concluding -treaties. American generals, members of the foreign -diplomatic body in Paris, including a “coloured gentleman,” -and envoys of the Imperialist party wished to speak -to the busy statesman in his small room upstairs, and, -as a matter of course, English newspaper correspondents -eagerly tried to force their way into his presence. Then -there were Government couriers with their despatch -bags, Chancery attendants with telegrams, orderlies with -messages from the general staff, and besides all these a -superfluity of work which was as difficult as it was -important. In short, what with deliberating on old -schemes and forming new ones, seeking how to overcome -difficulties, vexation and trouble, the disappointment -of well-grounded expectations, now and then a -lack of support and readiness to meet his views, the -foolish opinions of the Berlin press and their dissatisfaction -notwithstanding our undreamt of success, -together with the agitation of the Ultramontanes, it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[p. 232]</span> -was often hard to understand how the Chancellor, with -all these calls upon his activity and patience, and with -all this disturbance and friction, was, on the whole, able -to preserve his health and maintain that freshness which -he showed so frequently late in the evening in conversations -both serious and humorous. During his -stay at Versailles he was only once or twice unwell for -three or four days.</p> - -<p>The Minister allowed himself little recreation—a -ride between 3 and 4 o’clock, an hour at table with half -an hour for the cup of coffee which followed it in the -drawing-room, and now and then, after 10 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, a -longer or shorter chat at the tea-table with whoever -happened to be there, and a couple of hours sleep after -daybreak. The whole remainder of the day was devoted -to business, studying or writing in his room, or in conversations -and negotiations,—unless a sortie of the -French or some other important military operation -called him to the side of the King, or alone to some post -of observation.</p> - -<p>Nearly every day the Chancellor had guests to -dinner, and in this way we came to see and hear almost -all the well-known and celebrated men prominently -connected in the war. Favre repeatedly dined with us, -reluctantly at first, “because his countrymen within the -walls were starving,” but afterwards listening to wise -counsel and exhortation and doing justice like the rest -of us to the good things of the kitchen and cellar. -Thiers, with his keen intelligent features, was on one -occasion amongst the guests, and the Crown Prince once -did us the honour to dine at our table, when such of the -Chief’s assistants as were not previously known to him -were presented. At another time Prince Albrecht was -present. Of the Minister’s further guests, I will here<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[p. 233]</span> -only mention Delbrück, President of the Bundeskanzleiamt, -who was frequently in Versailles for weeks -at a time, the Duke of Ratibor, Prince Putbus, von -Bennigsen, Simson, Bamberger, Friedenthal and von -Blankenburg, the Bavarian Ministers Count Bray and -von Lutz, the Würtemberg Ministers von Wächter and -Mittnacht, von Roggenbach, Prince Radziwill, and finally -Odo Russell, who was subsequently British Ambassador -to the German Empire. When the Chief was present -the conversation was always lively and varied, while it -was frequently instructive as illustrating his manner of -regarding men and things, or as throwing light upon -certain episodes and incidents of his past life.</p> - -<p>Madame Jesse put in an appearance a few days before -our departure and, as previously observed, did not produce -a good impression. She seems to have made -charges against us which the French press, even papers -that lay claim to some respectability, circulated with -manifest pleasure. Amongst other things we are -alleged to have packed up her plate and table linen. -Furthermore, Count Bismarck tried to compel her to -give him a valuable clock.</p> - -<p>The first assertion was simply an absurdity, as there -was no silver in the house, unless it was in a corner of -the cellar which was walled up, and which—on the -express directions of the Chief—was left unopened. The -true story about the clock was quite different to that -circulated by Madame Jesse. The article in question -was the timepiece in the drawing-room with the small -bronze demon. Madame Jesse offered the Chancellor this -piece of furniture, which in itself was of comparatively -little value, at an exorbitant price, on the assumption that -he prized it as a witness to the important negotiations -that had taken place in her room. I believe she asked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[p. 234]</span> -5,000 francs for it. But she overreached herself, and -her offer was declined. “I remember,” said the Minister -afterwards in Berlin, “observing at the time that -possibly the impish figure on the clock, which made such -faces, might be particularly dear to her as a family -portrait, and that I should be sorry to deprive her of it.”</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[p. 235]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="10">X</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdgcent">AUTUMN DAYS AT VERSAILLES</p> -</div> - -<p class="firstpara">The day after our arrival at Versailles I forwarded the -following statement with regard to the measures taken -against Jacoby, in accordance with the Chief’s views. -It was an answer to the protests which had been made -by the German press against his arrest, and not merely -by the democratic and the progressist organs, which invariably -criticise political and military affairs from -the standpoint of private morals.</p> - -<p>“We still hear a great deal about the alleged -illegality committed in arresting Jacoby. That measure -might have been inopportune; perhaps less importance -might have been attached to his demonstrations. But -there was nothing illegal in the course adopted, as we -are now in a state of war, when the civil code must yield -to military necessity. The imprisonment of Jacoby -falls within the military jurisdiction, with which the -police and the judicial authorities have nothing to do. -It is in no sense to be regarded as a punishment. Jacoby -is simply a prisoner of war, just as would be a spy -arrested in Germany, with whom of course we do not -wish otherwise to compare him. In other words, he -was one of the forces that increased the difficulty of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[p. 236]</span> -attaining the object of the war, and had accordingly to -be rendered harmless.</p> - -<p>“This will be made clear by a glance at the -numerous instances in which those entrusted with the -conduct of war are obliged to over-ride the rights of -person and property recognised by the Constitution. -For purposes of successful defence private property -may be destroyed without previously arranging the -terms of compensation, houses may be burned and trees -cut down, an entrance may be forced into private -residences, street traffic may be stopped and every other -means of transport such as ships, carts, &c., can be -either seized or destroyed without the previous permission -of the owner, that rule applying to our own -as well as to the enemy’s country. The removal of -persons who afford the enemy either moral or material -support, or who merely give rise to suspicion that they -do so, comes under the same category of laws which -apply to countries in a state of war.</p> - -<p>“These principles are not contested in so far as -they are applicable to the immediate seat of war. The -idea upon which they are based is not, however, -affected by the locality. Those who wield the power -of the State must exercise the rights and fulfil the -duties accorded to and imposed upon them for the -purpose of securing the object of the war, without -regard to the distance from the actual scene of warfare -of the obstacles which require removal. They are -bound to prevent the occurrence of such incidents as -render the attainment of peace less easy. We are -now carrying on a war for the purpose of enforcing -conditions which will hinder the enemy from attacking -us in future. Our opponents resist these conditions -and will be greatly encouraged and strengthened in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[p. 237]</span> -their resistance by a declaration on the part of Germans -that these conditions are inexpedient and unjust. The -Brunswick working class manifesto and the Königsberg -resolution have been utilised to the utmost by the -French press and have obviously confirmed the Republicans -now holding power in Paris in the idea that -they are right in rejecting those conditions. These -French Republicans measure the influence of their -German sympathisers on the Governments of Germany -by the standard of their own experience. The impression -which those demonstrations at Brunswick and -Königsberg produced in Germany was probably little; -but the point is, what effect did they have in Paris? -The effect there is such that similar demonstrations -must be rendered impossible in future, and their instigator -must accordingly be put out of harm’s way.”</p> - -<p>In the morning Keudell said to me we might remain -in Versailles for about three weeks. Metz would -soon be obliged to capitulate, as they now had -only horseflesh to eat and no salt. They were still -confident in Paris, although there was great mortality -amongst their cattle, which were fed on compressed food. -Burnside, who had been in the city, confirmed this news. -The Minister was less sanguine. The question of -uniforms for the secretaries was again brought up, and -in this connection the Chief remarked that the war -might yet continue for a considerable time, perhaps till -Christmas, possibly till Easter, and probably a portion -of the troops would remain in France for years to come. -Paris should have been immediately stormed on the -19th of September, or left entirely on one side. He -then told his valet to send to Berlin for his fur coats.</p> - -<p>In the further course of conversation the Minister -said: “I heard something really characteristic to-day.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[p. 238]</span> -The host of Princes who have followed us and who are -lodging at the Hôtel des Reservoirs are living at the -expense of the town! They let the municipality feed -them, though they have merely come out of curiosity, -and are nothing more than distinguished loafers. It is -particularly shabby of the Duke of Coburg, who is a -rich man, with an annual revenue of a million thalers. -Such a piece of meanness ought to be noticed in the -press. It is shameful for a Prince to allow himself to -be fed by a town already so impoverished.” The Chief -again returned to this subject a little later, “The royal -household is a very comprehensive conception, and so it -is impossible to object to these gentlemen being fed. -The King pays for the Crown Prince, and the Crown -Prince for the other princely personages. But it is -mean of the latter to help to suck the town dry, and -the newspapers should not overlook it.”</p> - -<p>I afterwards asked the Minister, who was alone with -me in the drawing-room, where he remained behind after -taking a cup of coffee, whether I should send the press -particulars of the not very gentlemanly conduct of the -Princes. “Certainly, why not?” he replied; “and you -can also give the name of the Coburger—not in our -own papers, however.” The bolt was accordingly despatched -to Metzler, of the Foreign Office in Berlin, who -was to pass it on to the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>.</p> - -<p>“An Englishman at the headquarters at Meaux” -wrote to the <cite>Daily Telegraph</cite> that the Chief on the -conclusion of his interview with Malet said: “What -gives myself and the King most anxiety is the influence -of a French Republic in Germany. We are very well -aware how American Republicanism has reacted upon -Germany, and if the French oppose us with a republican -propaganda it will do us more harm than their armies.”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[p. 239]</span> -The Minister wrote on the margin of this statement: -“An absurd lie.”</p> - -<p><i>Friday, October 7th.</i>—Hatzfeldt informed us at -lunch that the Greek Minister in Paris, with a -“family” of twenty-four or twenty-five persons, has -come out to us on his way to Tours to join the -delegation of the Government of National Defence. -His boy told the Count that he did not at all like -Paris. They got too little meat to eat there.</p> - -<p>Prepared an article for the press from the following -sketch: “We are carrying on war, not with a view to -a permanent occupation of France, but to secure a peace -on the conditions which we have laid down. For that -reason we desire to negotiate with a Government which -represents the will of France, and whose declarations -and concessions will bind France as well as ourselves. -The present Government has not that character. It -must be confirmed by a National Assembly, or replaced -by another Government. A general election is necessary -for that purpose; and we are quite prepared to permit -this to take place in those parts of the country which -we occupy, so far as strategic considerations will allow. -The present holders of power in Paris, however, have no -disposition to adopt this course. For personal considerations -they injure the interests of the country by -inflicting upon it a continuance of the evils of war.”</p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt complained at dinner that the Greeks, who -are anxious to get away, pestered him with their lamentations. -“Yes,” said the Chief, “they too must be -regarded with suspicion. They must first be identified -according to their descriptions, and it must then be -seen whether they have been properly circumcised. -But no, that is not customary among the Greeks. -What seems to me, however, more suspicious even than<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[p. 240]</span> -this enormous diplomatic family, is Wittgenstein, who -comes out at the risk of his life on pretence of having -despatches for me, and who afterwards turns out to -have none. I wonder do they fancy that we shall -tolerate this running to and fro between Paris and -Kutusow?”</p> - -<p>“But,” said Hatzfeldt, “he might be able to bring -us news from the city.”</p> - -<p>The Chief: “For that purpose he should bear a -character that inspires confidence, and that he does -not do.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned on the exhausted condition -of the town of Versailles, which has had heavy -expenses to bear during the last fortnight. The new -Mayor, a <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Rameau, was granted an audience with the -Chief to-day. Referring to this the Minister said: “I -told him that they should raise a loan. ‘Yes,’ he -replied, ‘that would be possible, but then he must ask -permission to go to Tours, as he required the authority -of his Government for such a measure.’ Of course I -could not promise him that, and besides they would -hardly give him the necessary authority there. Probably -they think at Tours that it is the duty of the Versailles -people to starve in order that we may be starved with -them. But they forget that we are the stronger and -take what we want. They have absolutely no idea -what war is.”</p> - -<p>A reference to the neighbourhood between the -palace and the Hôtel des Reservoirs brought up the -subject of the distinguished guests who are staying at -the latter house. Amongst other remarks upon the -“troop of princes,” the Chancellor said: “They have -nothing decent to eat at that hotel, possibly because the -people think their highnesses wish to have it gratis.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[p. 241]</span></p> - -<p>Finally some one broached the question of tolerance, -and at first the Chancellor expressed himself much in -the same sense as he had done at St. Avold. He declared -in decided terms for tolerance in matters of faith. -“But,” he added, “the Freethinkers are also not tolerant. -They persecute believers, not indeed with the stake, -since that is impossible, but with insult and mockery -in the press. Amongst the people, so far as they are -non-believers, there has also not been much progress. -What pleasure it would afford them to see Pastor Knack -hanged!”</p> - -<p>Somebody having mentioned that early Protestantism -had shown no tolerance, Bucher called attention to -the fact that, according to Buckle, the Huguenots were -zealous reactionaries, as was, indeed, the case with all -the reformers of that period. “They were not exactly -reactionaries,” replied the Chief, “but petty tyrants—each -parson was a small Pope.” He then referred to -the course taken by Calvin against Servetus, and added -“Luther was just the same.” I ventured to recall -Luther’s treatment of the followers of Karlstadt and -Munzer, as well as the case of the Wittenberg theologians -after him, and Chancellor Krell. Bucher related -that towards the end of the last century the Scottish -Presbyterians punished a person for merely lending -Thomas Paine’s <cite>Rights of Man</cite> with twenty-one years’ -transportation, the offender being immediately cast into -chains. I pointed to the rigid intolerance of the New -England States towards the members of other religious -communions and to their tyrannical liquor law. “And -the Sabbath-keeping,” said the Chief, “that is a horrible -tyranny. I remember the first time I went to England -on landing at Hull I whistled in the street. An -Englishman, whose acquaintance I had made on board<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[p. 242]</span> -said to me, ‘Pray, sir, don’t whistle!’ I asked ‘Why -not? is it forbidden here?’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘but it -is the Sabbath.’ That made me so angry that I immediately -took a ticket on another steamer for Edinburgh, -as it did not at all suit me not to be able to whistle -when I had a mind to.” Bucher remarked that in -general the Sunday in England was not so bad. He -himself had always greatly enjoyed the stillness after -the rush and roar of the working day in London, where -the noise began early in the morning. The Chancellor -then continued: “In other respects I am not at all -opposed to keeping the Sabbath holy. On the contrary, -as a landed proprietor, I promote it as much as possible. -Only I will not force the people. Every one must know -best for himself how to prepare for the future life. No -work should be done on Sunday, because it is wrong as -being a breach of the Divine commandment, and unfair -to man, who requires rest. That of course does not -apply to the service of the State and in particular to -the diplomatic service, in which despatches and telegrams -are delivered on Sundays which must be dealt -with at once. There can also be no objection to our -country people saving their hay or corn on a fine -Sunday after a long spell of bad weather. I could not -bring myself to coerce my farmers in those things.... -I can afford to do as I think right myself, as the damage -done by a possible rainy Monday would not affect me. -Our landed proprietors consider that it is not respectable -to allow their people to work on Sunday even in -such an emergency!” I mentioned that pious families -in America do not even cook on the Sabbath, and that -on being once invited to dinner in New York on a -Sunday there was only cold meat on the table. “In -Frankfurt,” said the Chief, “when I had more liberty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[p. 243]</span> -we always dined very simply on Sundays, and I never -ordered the carriage out on account of the servants.” -I ventured to remark that in Leipzig all shops were -closed on Sunday, with the exception of the bakers’ and -some tobacconists. “Yes, that is as it should be; but -I do not want to put pressure on anybody. I might -possibly do it in the country by not buying from a -tradesman—that is if his goods were not of exceptionally -high quality, for then I do not know whether -I should be able to stand firm. Care should be taken, -however, that noisy trades, such as that of the blacksmith, -should not be carried on in the neighbourhood -of a church on Sunday.”</p> - -<p>I was summoned to the Minister in the evening. -“Thile<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> writes to me,” he said, “that the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche -Allgemeine Zeitung</cite> has a terrible article against the -Catholics. Is it by you?” “I do not know which he -alludes to, as I have recently called attention on several -occasions to the proceedings of the Ultramontanes.” He -then searched for the extract, which he read over half -aloud. “But that is perfectly true and correct. Yes, -that’s quite right. Our good Thile has been thoroughly -taken in by Savigny. He has gone out of his wits and -howls because we have not rescued the Pope and his -whole family.”</p> - -<p>We were thirteen at table to-day, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Lauer being -one of the number. I pointed this out to Bucher, who -sat near me. “Don’t speak so loud,” he replied. “The -Chief has a very sharp ear, and he is superstitious on -that point.”<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[p. 244]</span></p> - -<p><i>Monday, October 10th.</i>—Called to the Chief twice -during the morning. He went subsequently to the -Crown Prince’s quarters, where he remained for -lunch.</p> - -<p>The conversation at dinner at first turned on the -interview of the King with Napoleon at Bellevue, near -Sedan, respecting which Russell sent a full report to <cite>The -Times</cite>, although the two Sovereigns were alone and the -Chancellor himself was only aware of what had passed -in so far as the King had assured him that there had -been absolutely no reference to politics. “As a matter -of fact,” said the Chancellor, “it would not have been -nice of ‘our Most Gracious’ to have maintained silence -only towards his Ministers. Russell must unquestionably -have received his news from the Crown Prince.”</p> - -<p>I now forgot how and by whom the subject of -dangerous touring expeditions was introduced, but the -Minister himself related some daring enterprises of his -own. “I remember,” he said, “being once with a -party, amongst whom were the Orloffs, in South France, -near the Pont du Gard. An old Roman aqueduct of -several stories crossed the valley. Princess Orloff, a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[p. 245]</span> -very spirited lady, proposed that we should go across -over it. There was a very narrow path, about a foot -and a half wide, along one side of the old water channel, -and on the other side a wall of big slabs of stone. It -looked a very hazardous undertaking, but I could not -allow myself to be beaten by a woman. We two -accordingly started on this enterprise, Orloff going with -the rest of the company down by the valley. For some -time we walked on all right along the stone wall, from -which we could see a depth of several hundred feet -beneath us. Further on, however, the stones had fallen -off and we had to pick our way along the narrow ledge. -Then we came to another stretch of relatively easy -going, but after there was another very bad bit on an -unsafe ledge. Screwing up my courage I stepped out -quickly after the Princess, and grasping her with one -arm, jumped down with her into the channel some four -to five feet deep. Our companions below, who had -suddenly lost sight of us, were in the greatest anxiety -until at length we came out on the other side.”</p> - -<p>In the evening I was called to the Chief to receive -instructions respecting Garibaldi, who, according to a -telegram from Tours, had arrived there and offered his -services to the French Republic. The Chancellor said: -“But just tell me why you sometimes write in such a -sledge-hammer style? It is true I have not seen the -text of your telegram about Russell, but your recent -article on the Ultramontanes in the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche Allgemeine -Zeitung</cite> was very strongly worded. Surely the -Saxons are usually regarded as a very polite race, and -if you have any ambition to become Court Historian to -the Foreign Office, you must not be so violent.” I -ventured to reply that I could also be polite, and was -capable of irony without rudeness. “Well, then,” he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[p. 246]</span> -said, “be polite but without irony. Write diplomatically. -Even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of -politeness.”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, October 11th.</i>—It appears from the conversation -at dinner that an assembly of a congress of -German Princes at Versailles has been for some time -past under consideration. It is hoped that the King of -Bavaria will also come. In that case Delbrück thinks -“it would be well to place at his disposal one of the -historic apartments in the palace—possibly the bedroom -of Louis <abbr title="14">XIV.</abbr> With his character he would be certainly -delighted at such an arrangement, and would not be too -exacting in the matter of comfort.” The Chief dined -to-day with the Crown Prince, and did not return until -10 o’clock, when he had an interview with Burnside.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, October 12th.</i>—Amongst other things I -wrote to-day another article on the hostile attitude -assumed by the Ultramontanes towards us in this war.</p> - -<p>It was directed against the <cite lang="de">Schlesische Haus-Blätter</cite>, -and concluded as follows: “We should have thought -that it was impossible at this time of day to be misunderstood -in using the terms ‘ultramontane’ and -‘ultramontanism.’ We should have thought that -honest Catholics would as clearly understood what was -meant thereby as do other Christians, and that as honest -Catholics they could not possibly take offence at strictures -upon ultramontane agitation and attacks. Acting -on this supposition, we called attention to the resistance -offered by that party to the latest development of -German affairs. To our great astonishment, however, -we learn through a Silesian journal that our article, in -which the party in question was described as ultramontane, -has actually given offence, and been regarded -as a censure and impeachment of Catholicism itself.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[p. 247]</span> -We deprecate any such interpretation of our meaning. -Nothing was more remote from our intention. From -our standpoint Ultramontanism has just as little in -common with the faith of the Catholic Church as -Atheism and Nihilism have with the Protestant Church. -Ultramontanism is of a purely political character. It -is the spirit of a sect with exclusively worldly aims, -namely, the restoration as far as possible of universal -empire on a mediæval theocratic basis. It does not -recognise the claims of patriotism, and it considers the -end to justify the means. In speaking of the Ultramontanes -as zealous opponents of Germany in the -present war, the examples which we gave made it -sufficiently clear to whom we referred. For the purpose -of removing all doubt on this point, however, and to -prevent the possibility in future of circles for whom we -entertain feelings of respect taking unnecessary offence -at remarks which were not intended for them, we will -here add a few further examples.</p> - -<p>“When we complained of the hostility of the Ultramontanes -we were thinking of those French priests who -were convicted upon trustworthy evidence of having -fired upon our soldiers. In repeating these charges we -have other priests in mind who, a few days ago, under -the pretext of bringing the last consolation to the -dying, sneaked through our camp outside Paris as -spies; and to the manifesto of the former ultramontane -deputy, Keller, an Alsacian, published in the <cite lang="fr">Union</cite>, -which declares that the war against us is a ‘holy war,’ -and that every shot fired at a German is an <i lang="fr">œuvre -sainte</i>. We imagine that after this explanation our -Silesian contemporary will no longer doubt our respect -for the Catholic Church, and will not itself desire to -identify the Catholic cause with those who thus act and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[p. 248]</span> -speak, and are guilty of such a gross abuse of the conception -of ‘holiness.’”</p> - -<p>On my submitting the article to the Chief he said: -“You still write too bluntly for me. But you told me -that you were capable of delicate irony. Here, however, -there is much more irony than delicacy.” (I had -only reproduced his own expressions, which, however, -shall be avoided in future.) “Write it all in a different -strain. You must write politically, and in politics the -object is not to give offence.” The Chief then altered -the article in part, the first paragraph assuming the -following form: “We had not believed that at this -time of day the use of the expressions ‘ultramontane’ -and ‘ultramontanism’ could lead to any misunderstanding. -We imagined that Catholics had as clear a -conception of the meanings of those words as the -members of other Christian communities, and that they -would understand that no offence was intended to them -in complaining of the attacks of the Ultramontanes. -It was on this supposition that we dealt with the -opposition of the party in question to the latest -development of German affairs, and we are surprised -to find that a Silesian newspaper, notorious for its -violence of language, has inverted our meaning, substituting -the Catholic Christian world for the coterie -which we attacked.” The Minister struck out the -adjective “zealous” before “opponents of Germany,” -and also the following sentence beginning with the -words “For the purpose of removing.” The concluding -passage read as follows after the Minister had corrected -it: “In complaining of the Ultramontanes we were -thinking, as we expressly stated, of the party of the -<cite lang="de">Münchener Volksboten</cite> and similar organs, whose -slanderous jibes stir up the Germans against each<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[p. 249]</span> -other, and who encouraged the French to attack -Germany and are partly responsible for the present -war, inasmuch as they represented French victory to be -easy and certain, and the German people to be disunited; -we had in mind the priests of Upper Alsace -and the French priests who instigated the country -population to murderous attacks upon our troops in -which they themselves took part; we had further in -view those priests who sullied the cloth, sneaking into -our camp as spies under pretence of bringing the last -consolation to the dying, and who are at the present -moment being tried by court-martial for this conduct; -and we were also thinking of a manifesto published in -the <cite lang="fr">Union</cite> by the former ultramontane deputy, Keller, -an Alsacian, in which the present war was represented -as a crusade, and every shot fired at a German as an -<i lang="fr">œuvre sainte</i>. We imagine that the Silesian journal in -question will hardly succeed in obtaining credence -when it casts doubt upon our respect for the Catholic -Church. It will not desire to identify the cause of -Catholicism with that of men who have been guilty -of such a wicked abuse of sacred things and of genuine -faith.”</p> - -<p>The Chief dined with the King to-day, but afterwards -joined us at table, where he complained of the -way in which the smaller potentates worried “their” -Chancellor with all sorts of questions and counsels, -“until Prince Charles noticed my appealing glance and -saved me from their clutches.”</p> - -<p>After dinner a gentleman who has come from Paris, -supposed to be a Spanish diplomat, succeeded in -obtaining an interview with the Chancellor, and remained -with him for a long time. Like other gentlemen -who have come from the city he will not be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[p. 250]</span> -allowed to return. Some of us considered the visit -rather suspicious.</p> - -<p>Burnside came in while we were at tea. He wishes -to leave here and go to Brussels, in order to find apartments -for his wife, who is now at Geneva. He says -that Sheridan has left for Switzerland and Italy. -Apparently the Americans can do nothing further in -the way of negotiations. The general wished to see -the Chief again this evening. I dissuaded him, -pointing out that although, owing to his great regard -for the Americans, the Chancellor would receive him if -he were announced, yet consideration ought to be paid -to the heavy pressure upon his time. This was quite in -accord with the Chief’s wishes, as on my being summoned -to him at 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> he said: “As you know -Burnside, please point out to him how much I am -occupied, but in such a way that he will not think I -have prompted you. He never quite finishes what he -has got to say, but always keeps back something for -another time. It is only fair that he should know how -busy I am, and that I am a matter of fact man. I -have a weakness for these Americans, and they know it, -but they ought to have some consideration for me. -Point that out to him, and say that I must make short -work of it, even with crowned heads. Besides, I require -six or seven hours daily for my work, and must therefore -remain at it until late into the night.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, October 13th.</i>—Read and made use of a -report from Rome giving the result of the plebiscite, -which shows that there is no longer any Papal party -there. It would appear as if the whole political -organisation of the Papal State has fallen into dust, like -a corpse that, after remaining unchanged for a thousand -years in its leaden shell, has been suddenly exposed to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[p. 251]</span> -the air. There is nothing left of it—not a memory nor -even a void which it had filled. The voting, which had -to be conducted according to the Italian Constitution, -is a voluntary manifestation of opinions which either -involve no sacrifice or a very slight one, except, of -course, to the emigrants. So far as those opinions indicate -an antipathy to the political <i lang="fr">régime</i> of the -Papacy, there can be no possibility of a reaction. On -the other hand, whether the Romans will desire to be -and to remain subjects of the King of Italy will depend, -so far as the permanence of his rule is concerned, upon -the manner in which they are governed.</p> - -<p>I received this report from the Chancellor, with -instructions to utilise it in the press. The statistical -information, however, was all that was to be taken. -“It would appear therefrom,” he added, “that there -has been some trickery. But do not draw any moral -against either the Pope or Italy.”</p> - -<p>To judge by a letter from Saint Louis, dated the -13th of September, national sentiment amongst the -Germans in America would seem to have been greatly -stimulated by the success of the war, and to be now -much stronger than their republican leanings. “A -German who has lived here for twenty years, who was -formerly your deadly foe, but whose ideal you now are,” -thus enthusiastically addresses the Chancellor: “Forward, -Bismarck! Hurrah for Germany! Hurrah for -William the First, Emperor of Germany!” Bravo! -But it appears that our Democrats must emigrate before -they can be brought to entertain such feelings.</p> - -<p>The conversation at dinner was not of particular -interest to-day. While taking our coffee, the Chancellor -again read us a portion of a letter from “Johanna” -(his wife), which contained some very severe judgments<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[p. 252]</span> -upon the French, referring, amongst other things, to -Paris as an “abominable Babel.”</p> - -<p><i>Friday, October 14th.</i>—Busy working for the post -up to midday. Telegraphed afterwards to London -and Brussels respecting the false assertions of Ducrot -in the <i lang="fr">Liberté</i>. Also reported that General Boyer, -Bazaine’s first adjutant, had arrived at Versailles from -Metz for the purpose of negotiating with us. The -Chief, however, does not seem to wish to treat seriously -with him, at least to-day. He said in the bureau: -“What day of the month is it?” “The 14th, Excellency.” -“Ah, that was Hochkirchen and Jena, days -of disaster for Prussia. We must not begin any -business to-day.” It may also be observed that to-day -is a Friday.</p> - -<p>At dinner the Chief, after thinking for a moment, -said, smiling: “I have a lovely idea in connection -with the conclusion of peace. It is to appoint an -International Court for the trial of all those who have -instigated the war, newspaper writers, deputies, senators, -and ministers.” Abeken added that Thiers would also -be indirectly involved, especially on account of his -Chauvinistic <cite>History of the Consulate and Empire</cite>. -“The Emperor also,” said the Chief. “He is not quite -so innocent as he wants to make out. My idea was -that each of the great Powers should appoint an equal -number of judges, America, England, Russia and so -forth, and that we should be the prosecutors. But the -English and the Russians would of course not agree to -it, so that the Court might after all be composed of the -two nations who have suffered most from the war, that -is to say, of Frenchmen and Germans.” The Minister -also said: “I have read the article in the <cite lang="fr">Indépendance -Belge</cite>, which Grammont is believed to have written.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[p. 253]</span> -He blames us for not having set Napoleon at liberty at -Sedan, and he is not pleased at our marching on Paris, -instead of merely occupying Alsace and Lorraine as a -pledge. I thought at first it might have come from -Beust or some other good friend in Austria, but I am -now convinced that it must have been written by a -Frenchman.” He gave his reasons for this opinion, and -then continued: “His argument would be just if his -assumption were correct, namely, that we really did not -want Alsace, but only an indemnity. But as it is it -will be better to have Paris as well as Alsace as pledges. -When one wants something decent the pledge can -never be of too great value.”</p> - -<p>A reference was made to Boyer, who created a great -sensation in the town, where the uniform of a French -general has not been seen for a long time past, and -who was greeted by the crowd with shouts of “Vive -la France!” He declared, it is said, that the army in -Metz remained faithful to the Emperor, and would have -nothing to do with the republic of Parisian lawyers. -The Chancellor also expressed himself to this effect, -adding: “The General is one of those people who -become suddenly lean when they grow excited. Unquestionably -he is also a thorough scoundrel, but he -can still blush.” In reading the following further -remarks by the Minister, it must be remembered that -Gambetta had already preached war <i lang="fr">à outrance</i>, and -that the Parisian press almost daily recommended some -new infamy.</p> - -<p>The Chancellor referred to various horrors that had -again been committed recently by bands of guerillas. -He quoted the proverb, <i lang="de">Wie es in den Wald schallt, -so schallt es wieder heraus</i>, (The wood re-echoes what -is shouted into it,) and said that to show any consideration<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[p. 254]</span> -to these treacherous franctireurs was a “culpable -laziness in killing.” “It is treason to our country.” -“Our people are very good marksmen, but bad executioners. -Every village in which an act of treachery has -been committed should be burnt to the ground, and all -the male inhabitants hanged.”</p> - -<p>Count Bismarck-Bohlen then related that the village -of Hably, where a squadron of Silesian hussars was set -upon by franctireurs with the knowledge of the inhabitants -so that they only succeeded in bringing away -eleven horses, was actually burnt to the ground. The -Chief, as was only right and proper, commended this -act of energy.</p> - -<p>Bohlen further stated that sixty Bavarian infantrymen -who were with the cavalry detachment had not -kept proper watch, and that when the franctireurs -poured in from all sides at 3 o’clock in the morning -they took to their heels. The Chief said: “That fact -should be published in order that we may take proper -precautions later when we enter into a military -convention with Bavaria.”</p> - -<p>The Chancellor’s policy appears to be hampered by -other influences. He said at table: “It is really a great -nuisance that I must first discuss every plan I form -with five or six persons, who as a rule know nothing -about the matter. I must listen to their objections, -and am forced to refute them politely. In this way I -have been recently obliged to spend three whole days -over an affair that I could otherwise have settled in -three minutes. It is exactly as if I began to give my -opinion on the position of a battery, and the officer—whose -business I do not understand—were obliged to -reply to my argument.”</p> - -<p>The Chief afterwards related the following: “Moltke<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[p. 255]</span> -and Roon were with me yesterday, and I explained to -them my ideas. Roon, who is accustomed to Parliamentary -procedure, was silent and let me speak, and -then agreed with what I said. ‘Molk,’ whose profile -resembles more and more every day that of a bird of -prey, also appeared to be listening. But when I had -finished he came out with something utterly different, -and I saw that he had not paid the least attention to -my explanation, but had on the contrary been spinning -out some ideas of his own which had nothing to do with -the matter. ‘Molk’ is an exceedingly able man, and I -am convinced that whatever he gave his attention to he -would do well. But for years past he has devoted himself -to one single subject, and he has come to have no -head and no interest for anything else. It put me in a -temper to find I had been talking to deaf ears, but I -took my revenge. Instead of repeating my explanation -I observed to Roon: ‘You have given me your opinion, -therefore you have followed what I said. Will you now -have the kindness to explain the matter once more?’”</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, October 16th.</i>—This morning I received -another letter from Bamberger, who writes from -Lausanne. He thinks Bismarck can do what he likes if -he will only follow a sound German policy, that is to -say, “if a United German State is now firmly -established.” “In Germany people are convinced that -this solution rests with the Chancellor of the Confederation, -and all opposition offered to it is attributed by -public opinion to the Minister. People say to themselves -that if Count Bismarck did not secretly encourage -that opposition it would not dare to manifest itself in -such a great crisis.” Finally Bamberger asked whether -he should come here. At his request I submitted a -number of points in his letter to the Minister. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[p. 256]</span> -Chief said he would be very pleased to see Bamberger -here, as his local knowledge of Paris would be very -useful once we got in the city. “Then he can also on -his return explain many things in his own circles which -it would be difficult to write. It is strange, though, that -they should think I do not desire to see Germany -united. The cause is not progressing as it ought to do, -owing to the constant tergiversation of Bavaria and -Würtemberg, and because we do not know exactly what -King Lewis thinks. For the same reasons, if this unity -is at length secured, many things to which many people -look forward will still be wanting.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, October 17th.</i>—In the evening we were -told to pack our boxes, and that the carriages were to -take their place behind those of the King’s suite opposite -the Prefecture, in case of an alarm in the night. A -sortie has been expected since yesterday.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, October 18th.</i>—The Chief took lunch with -us to-day, a thing which has seldom happened recently.</p> - -<p>The Chief then read a number of particularly -edifying private letters to the Emperor Napoleon which -had been published by the Provisional Government, his -comments upon them also containing occasional -references to personages in Berlin. The Minister said, -with reference to a letter from Pourtales: “Schleinitz -was very discreet in speaking of his colleagues, but -being a vain old coxcomb he was exceedingly loquacious -with women of all sorts and conditions.” (Turning to -Delbrück:) “You should just have a glance at the police -reports which Manteuffel had prepared on this subject.”</p> - -<p>The Minister afterwards referred to a statement in -the <cite lang="pl">Kraj</cite>, and in connection therewith to the Poles in -general. He spoke a good deal about the victories of -the Great Elector in the East, and the alliance with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[p. 257]</span> -Charles the Tenth of Sweden, which had promised him -great advantages. It was a pity, however, that his -relations with Holland prevented him from following up -those advantages and fully availing himself of them. -He would otherwise have had a good prospect of -extending his power in Western Poland. On Delbrück -remarking that then Prussia would not have remained a -German State, the Chief replied: “It would not have -done any great harm. In that case there would have -been a northern State somewhat similar to Austria in -the South. Poland would have been for us what -Hungary is to Austria.” This observation reminded -me of what he had previously said on one occasion, -namely, that he had advised the Crown Prince to have -his son taught the Polish language, which, however, to -his regret, was not done.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, October 19th.</i>—At dinner, at which -Count Waldersee joined us, the Minister remarked: “It -would be a good plan if the inhabitants of a few square -miles of those districts where our troops are fired at from -behind hedges, and where the rails are loosened and -stones laid upon the railway lines, were transported to -Germany and kept under close watch there.” Bucher -related how, on his journey hither, an officer had borrowed -his revolver and played with it ostentatiously while -they were passing under a bridge from which French -scamps were accustomed to spit down upon our people. -The Chief exclaimed: “Why <em>play</em>? He should have -waited till they had done it, and then fired at them.”</p> - -<p>If I rightly understand, Weimar had “commanded” -the Chancellor to call upon him this evening, as he -wished to obtain information on some subject. The -Chief said: “I sent him word that I was detained by -my health and the business of State.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[p. 258]</span></p> - -<p>Waldersee understands that, during the burning of -the Palace of Saint Cloud, some of the minor Princes had -“saved for themselves” various “souvenirs,” such as -vases, trinkets and books, but were forced to return -them by order of the Crown Prince. Bohlen made some -outrageous jokes upon the Weimar Order of the White -Falcon, which led to a discussion on Orders in general, -and the plentiful crop of this species of fruit which many -people have already harvested. “Yes,” said the Chief, -“such quantities of tinplate! If it were only possible -to give away the Orders of which one has too many! To -you, for instance, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Busch. How would you like it?” -“No, thank you, Excellency,” I replied; “very many -thanks. But, yes; if I could have one of those that you -have worn yourself, as a memento, that would be something -different. Otherwise I do not want any.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, October 20th.</i>—Morning and afternoon -busy writing various articles and telegrams.</p> - -<p>The arrest of Jacoby by the military authorities was -one of the subjects discussed at dinner, and the Chief -once more expressed great doubts as to its expediency. -Bismarck-Bohlen was highly pleased that “the chattering -scoundrel had been locked up!” The Chancellor’s -reply was very characteristic. He said: “I am not -at all pleased. A party man might be, because it -would gratify his vindictiveness. A statesman knows -no such feeling. In politics the only question -is, what good result will it do to ill-treat a political -opponent?”</p> - -<p>Some one remarked that the Grand Duke of Weimar -was very angry because the Chief had not gone to see -him as desired, whereupon the Minister turned to -Keudell, and said rather sharply: “Tell —— (I could -not catch the name) immediately that I was indignant<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[p. 259]</span> -at his Gracious Master making such claims upon my -time and health, and that he should have such an -erroneous idea of the duties which I have to discharge.” -“I can now understand how poor Wartsdorf came to die -so young.” “The Coburger worries me almost as much. -He has written me a twelve-page letter on German -politics, but I have given him a proper answer. I told -him that of all the points he mentioned there was only -one which had not been long since dealt with, and that -one was not worth discussing. He did us a good service, -however, in 1866. It is true that previously he was bad -enough—when he wished to be Emperor of Germany, -and put himself at the head of a secret shooting club. -At that time I seriously intended to have him kidnapped -by a regiment of hussars and brought to Magdeburg, and -I submitted my proposal to the King. He is eaten up -with vanity.” The Minister then related that the Duke -had ordered a picture to be painted of himself as the -victor of Eckernförde, seated on a prancing charger with -a bombshell exploding at his feet; while, as a matter of -fact, “he did not on that occasion display any heroism, -but, on the contrary, kept at a respectable distance from -gunshot—which was quite a sensible thing for him -to do.”</p> - -<p>The German liberal press is still uneasy with respect -to the arrest of Jacoby. The Chief seems to consider it -of great importance that his view of the affair should -not be misunderstood, and that it should be generally -adopted. The <cite lang="de">Weser Zeitung</cite> of the 16th instant, -which arrived to-day, has an article which criticises the -Minister’s previous declarations on this subject in a -hostile spirit. It concludes as follows: “To sum up, -we must hold to our view that Jacoby has been treated -unjustly, and although we anticipate no fearful consequences<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[p. 260]</span> -from this action, we nevertheless regret this -episode in the history of a glorious epoch.”</p> - -<p>The Chief dictated the following reply:—</p> - -<p>“The <cite lang="de">Weser Zeitung</cite> of the 16th instant heads its -columns with an article which speaks of the advice forwarded -to the Königsberg magistrates by the Chancellor -of the Confederation, through the Chief President von -Horn, respecting the Jacoby affair. Be good enough to -permit a few words of explanation in connection with -that criticism. The remarks of the <cite lang="de">Weser Zeitung</cite> refer -to two different subjects. The statement of the Chancellor -in his communication to the Chief President is a -purely theoretical discussion as to whether action inadmissible -in peace may not be taken by military -authorities after war has actually broken out. The -opinions therein expressed are almost the same as these -which must have been entertained by the <cite lang="de">Weser Zeitung</cite> -itself when it remarked, ‘We can easily conceive cases -in which we should be prepared with all our hearts to -grant not only an indemnity but a vote of thanks for -the somewhat illegal arrest of any worthless individual -who obstructed this holy war.’ That is exactly the -opinion of the Chancellor. If that much were not -granted, it would then be impossible on an invasion of -North German territory to deliver battle on our own -soil, unless some extensive and entirely uninhabited -heath were discovered and retained for the purpose, and -even then the proprietor of that piece of ground would -be afterwards able to claim compensation for the damage -done to his property.</p> - -<p>“Either the authorities entrusted with the conduct -of the military operations must, notwithstanding the -actual outbreak of hostilities, be bound by the Constitution -and the law, or they must be held at liberty to take<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[p. 261]</span> -such reasonable measures as they consider necessary -with a view to the fulfilment of their task. Theoretically, -this question must be answered with a bare affirmative -or negative. If it be answered in the negative -it is hard to say by how many judicial officials every -detachment of the fighting force on native soil would -have to be accompanied, and what legal formalities -gone through in the case of each separate house and -person before the military authorities could feel that -they were constitutionally within their rights in the -course they desired to adopt. If the question is -answered in the affirmative, then it must be recognised -that it is impossible to codify the regulations governing -the discretionary power which must be vested in the -military commander in war, in such a manner that the -general or soldier who executes his orders on native soil -can in every instance refer to the particular paragraph -of the Constitution or the law justifying his action.</p> - -<p>“The Chancellor of the Confederation cannot possibly -have had any other intention than to lay down the -principles just stated theoretically, since, as a constitutional -Prussian Minister of State, it is not competent for -him to express any opinion as to whether the military -commander has acted rightly in exercising the power -vested in him, or as to the extent to which he may have -exercised it. The military governors, who are appointed -before the outbreak of war, are neither nominated by the -Minister nor are they under his control. They are, on -the contrary, appointed without his concurrence on the -authority of the commander-in-chief, like all other -military commanders. The Chancellor of the Confederation -and the other Ministers of State are not the -superiors of the military governors, and the latter would -not obey the directions of the Ministers, but only those<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[p. 262]</span> -of the military authorities which reach them without -any Ministerial co-operation.</p> - -<p>“It is therefore an entirely unpractical course for -those who consider themselves unjustly treated under the -orders of the military authorities to direct their complaints -to the Ministers of State. They can only demand -redress from the military superiors of those against -whom they enter complaint. It may therefore be taken -for granted that the Chancellor of the Confederation -has not considered himself to be in a position to -officially express an opinion on the expediency of the -course adopted in a single instance, such as that of -Jacoby, but has, on the contrary, merely dealt from a -theoretical standpoint, with the question whether, during -war and in the interest of its successful prosecution, the -arrest of individuals whose action in the judgment of -the military authorities is injurious to us and advantageous -to the enemy is temporarily permissible.</p> - -<p>“Stated in these general terms, the question can -hardly be answered in the negative by practical politicians -and soldiers, although they may entertain many -scruples both on theoretical and judicial grounds against -martial law as a whole. The concrete question, however, -whether this right, if it exists, was properly exercised -in the case of Jacoby, is as much beyond the competence -of the Ministry as, say, the question whether it is -necessary or desirable in delivering battle on native -soil to set a particular village on fire, or to arrest -without legal process a private person at a distance of -fifty miles from the battle-field because he is suspected -of favouring the enemy. A discussion of the means -by which the military commander could be rendered -responsible for what the parties concerned may consider -a false, hasty or improper course is foreign to our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[p. 263]</span> -purpose. We have merely been at pains to show that -the constitutional attributes of the Ministry do not give -it any authority to interfere directly in such cases.”</p> - -<p><i>Friday, October 21st.</i>—The heavy firing which began -early this morning increased as the day wore on. We -did not allow this to disturb us, however. Various -articles were completed, including one on the departure -of the Nuncio and other diplomats from Paris.</p> - -<p>At lunch Keudell stated that the French artillery -had destroyed the porcelain factory at Sèvres. Hatzfeldt -told us that his mother-in-law, an American lady -who had remained in Paris, had sent him good news -respecting the ponies of which he had often spoken to -us. They were fine and fat. The question was whether -she should now eat them. He was about to answer, -“Yes, in God’s name!” but he intended to get the price -of these animals included in the indemnity to be paid -by the French Government.</p> - -<p>Between 1 and 2 o’clock the firing seemed to have -approached the woods to the north of the town. The -artillery fire was severe, the reports following each other -in rapid succession, while the rattle of the mitrailleuse -could also be recognised. It gave the impression that -a regular battle had developed, and was drawing nearer -to us. The Chief ordered his horse to be saddled, and -rode off. The rest of us also followed in the direction -in which the fight seemed to be raging. We saw the -familiar white clouds that accompany shell fire rise and -burst in the air to the left, over the wood through which -the road to Jardy and Vaucresson leads. Orderlies were -galloping along the road thither, and a battalion was -marching towards the point where the engagement was -taking place. The fight continued until after 4 o’clock, -and then one only heard isolated discharges from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[p. 264]</span> -large fort on Mont Valérien, and finally they too ceased. -As was only natural, great excitement prevailed during -the afternoon amongst the French in the town, and the -groups who stood before the houses probably expected -every moment, as the noise of the firing came nearer -and nearer, to see our troops in full flight before the -red breeches. They afterwards drew long faces and -shrugged their shoulders.</p> - -<p>In the evening the Chief said we ought not to permit -groups of people to collect in the streets on the -occasion of an engagement, and that the inhabitants -should be ordered in such circumstances to remain -within doors, the patrols being instructed to fire upon -those refusing obedience.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, October 22nd.</i>—This has now been done, -Voigts-Rhetz, the Commandant of Versailles, having -issued an order to the effect that on the alarm signal -being given, all the inhabitants must immediately -return to their houses, failing which the troops had -received instructions to fire upon them.</p> - -<p>The Parisian Prefect of Police, Keratry, has appeared -in Madrid with the object of submitting two proposals -to General Prim. The first is that France and Spain -should enter into an offensive and defensive alliance, -under which the latter country should send an army of -fifty thousand men to the assistance of the French. The -object of the alliance would be the common defence of -the nations of the Latin race against the supremacy of -the Germanic race. On Prim declining this strange -offer (strange inasmuch as the Spanish support of -France, which but three months before had in the most -arrogant manner forced its own policy upon Spain, -would be an unexampled piece of self-renunciation and -a misconception of the clearest interests of the Spanish<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[p. 265]</span> -people), the French intermediary asked that at least a -decree should be issued permitting the import of arms -into France. This suggestion was also rejected by -Prim.</p> - -<p>The surrender of Metz is expected within the next -week. Prince Frederick Charles desires, if I rightly -understand, a capitulation on the same conditions as at -Sedan and Toul; while the Chancellor, for political -reasons, is in favour of a more considerate treatment of -the garrison. The King seems to hesitate between the -two courses.</p> - -<p>The Chief said yesterday to the Mayor of Versailles: -“No elections, no peace. But the gentlemen of Paris -will not hear of them. The American generals who -were in Paris with the object of inducing them to hold -the elections tell me that there is no getting them to -consider the matter. Only Trochu said they were not -yet so hard pressed that they need enter into negotiations,—the -others would not hear of them, not even of -submitting the question to the country.” “I told him -finally,” said the Minister, “that we should have no -alternative but to come to an understanding with -Napoleon, and to force him back upon the French again. -He did not believe we would do that, as it would be the -grossest insult we could offer them. I replied that it -was nevertheless in the interests of the victor to leave -the defeated nation under a <i lang="fr">régime</i> which would have -to rely solely upon the army. In such circumstances it -would be impossible to think of foreign wars. In conclusion, -I advised him not to make the mistake of -thinking that Napoleon had no hold upon the people. -He had the army on his side. Boyer had negotiated -with me in the name of the Emperor. How far the -present Government in Paris had the support of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[p. 266]</span> -people remained to be seen. The rural population could -hardly share the opinion that peace was not to be -thought of. He then gave his own view respecting the -conditions of peace, namely, the razing of their fortresses -and ours, and the disarmament of both countries in proportion -to the population, &c. As I told him at the -commencement, these people have no right conception of -what war really is.”</p> - -<p>The <cite lang="fr">Nouvelliste</cite> being now the only newspaper in -Versailles, and as it sensibly avoids unnecessarily -hurting the patriotic sentiments of the French, the -people here take some account of it. Löwinsohn tells -us that the number of copies sold varies, some issues -have been quite cleared out, while of others he has -only thirty to fifty, and of yesterday’s 150 copies -on hand. Up to the present his weekly balance shows -no loss.</p> - -<p>In the evening wrote an article for the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche</cite> -in which the following ideas are developed. The first -condition upon which the Chancellor of the Confederation -insisted in speaking to the various persons who -have desired to negotiate with him respecting peace was -the election of an Assembly representing the will of -France. He addressed the same demand to the emissaries -of the Republicans and to the Imperialists, and -to another third party. He desires to grant all possible -facilities for thus consulting the wishes of the population. -The form of government is a matter of entire -indifference to us. But we can only deal with a real -Government recognised by the nation.</p> - -<p>The <cite lang="fr">Nouvelliste</cite> will shortly publish the following -ideas in a French dress: “At the present moment in -France, events are constantly occurring which are not -only opposed to common sense, but are frequently an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[p. 267]</span> -outrage on all moral feeling. Former Papal Zouaves, -and not alone Frenchmen, serve without scruple in the -army of a Republic which is governed by Voltairians. -Garibaldi comes to Tours, and offers, as he says, what -remains of his life to the service of France. He can -hardly have forgotten that this same France, twenty -years before, destroyed the Roman Republic, while the -wounds which it inflicted upon his country at Mentana -must be still fresh in his memory. Nor can we have -forgotten how his native town of Nice was filched from -the Italian fatherland by this same France, and that it -is at the present moment only restrained by a state of -siege from throwing off the French yoke.”</p> - -<p>Delbrück mentioned that during the preliminary -negotiations for the reorganisation of Germany, Bavaria -laid claim to a kind of joint participation in the representation -of the Federal State in foreign countries, -the Bavarian idea being that when the Prussian, or -rather the German, Minister or Ambassador was absent, -the Bavarian representative should have the conduct of -affairs. The Chief said: “No, whatever they like, but -that is really impossible. The question is not what -Ambassador we are to have, but what instructions he is -to receive, and under that arrangement there would be -two Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Germany.” The -Count then proceeded to further develop this point of -view, illustrating it by examples.</p> - -<p><i>Monday, October 24th.</i>—Strange news comes from -Marseilles. It appears that the Red Republicans have -there gained the upper hand. Esquiros, the Prefect of the -Mouths of the Rhone, belongs to this variety of French -Republicans. He has suppressed the <cite lang="fr">Gazette du Midi</cite>, -because the clubs of his party maintain that it favours -the candidature of the Comte de Chambord, whose<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[p. 268]</span> -proclamation it has published. He has also expelled -the Jesuits. A decree has been issued by Gambetta, -declaring the Prefect to be dismissed, and his measures -against the newspaper mentioned and the Jesuits to -be abrogated. Esquiros, however, supported by the -working classes, has declined to obey this order of the -Government Delegation at Tours, and continues to hold -his post. The <cite lang="fr">Gazette du Midi</cite> is still suppressed, and -the Jesuits are expelled. Just as little heed was paid to -Gambetta’s decree disbanding the Civic Guard, which -was recruited from Red Republicans, and is not to be -confounded with the Marseilles National Guard. The -Chief remarked with reference to this news: “It looks -as if things were tending towards civil war; and it is -possible that we may shortly have a Republic of South -France.” I worked up this news into paragraphs, -written in the sense of the foregoing comment.</p> - -<p>At 4 o’clock <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Gauthier, who comes from Chislehurst, -called upon the Chancellor.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, October 25th.</i>—This morning the Chief -said, in reference to a statement in the <cite lang="fr">Pays</cite> mentioning -an indemnity of three and a half milliards: “Nonsense! -I shall demand much more than that!”</p> - -<p>During dinner the subject of “William Tell” was -introduced, I cannot now remember how, and the -Minister confessed that, even as a boy, he could not -endure that character; first, because he shot at his -own son, and secondly, because he killed Gessler in a -treacherous way. “It would have been more natural -and noble to my mind if, instead of shooting at the -boy, for after all the best archer might hit him instead -of the apple, he had immediately shot down the -Governor. That would have been legitimate wrath -provoked by a cruel command. But the lurking and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[p. 269]</span> -skulking is not to my taste. It is not the proper style -for a hero, not even for franctireurs.”</p> - -<p>Two copies of the <cite lang="fr">Nouvelliste</cite> are pasted up daily in -different parts of the town, and are read by the people, -although, when a German passes by, the group engaged -in perusing them greets him with such criticisms as, -“<i lang="fr">Mensonges!</i>” or “<i lang="fr">Impossible!</i>” One of Stieber’s -attendant spirits, or some other guardian of the truth, -caught a working man to-day in the act of writing the -word “<span lang="fr">Blague</span>” on one of the copies posted up in the -neighbourhood of the Prefecture. It is said that he is -to be transported to Germany.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, October 26th.</i>—In the morning I translated -Granville’s despatch for the King, and afterwards -prepared an abstract of it for the press. The latter -was accompanied by the remark that we had already -twice offered the French an armistice on favourable -terms, once through Favre, and again, on the 9th of -October, through Burnside, but that they would not -accept it because we desired it. Then telegraphed to -London that Thiers is receiving a safe conduct to our -headquarters and permission to proceed thence to Paris. -Also that the Comte de Chambord had a meeting at -Coppet with the Comte de Paris.</p> - -<p>In the evening I wrote another article on the instructions -of the Chief to the following effect. It is -rumoured that Vienna diplomacy has again taken steps -to induce the Germans to grant an armistice. We find -it difficult to credit this report. The only advantage -to the French of an armistice at the present moment -would be to strengthen their resistance and to render -it more difficult for us to enforce the conditions which -we recognise as essential. Can that be the object -Austria has in view in taking this measure? The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[p. 270]</span> -following considerations are of an obvious nature. If -the authorities in Vienna deprive us of the fruits of our -victory, if we are prevented from securing that safe -western frontier which we are striving to win, a new -war with France is unavoidable, or rather the continuation -of the one thus interrupted. It is quite clear -where in such circumstances France would seek allies -and probably find them. It is equally certain that in -that case Germany would not wait until the recovery -of France from her present chaotic condition, which -would be promoted by a cessation of the war now in -progress. Germany would be obliged to deal first with -this future ally of France and to seek to render it -powerless, and the latter standing alone would have to -bear the cost of its own act in preventing us from attaining -our present object. In other words, it might -then happen that Austria would have to compensate us -by the cession of Bohemia for the loss of Lorraine, which -it once before alienated from the German Empire.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, October 28th.</i>—In the afternoon Moltke -sent the Chief a telegram which reported that the -capitulation of Metz was signed to-day at 12.45 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> -The French army thus made prisoners number -in all 173,000 men, including 16,000 sick and -wounded. Bennigsen, Friedenthal, and Von Blankenburg, -a friend of the Chancellor’s in his youth, joined -us at dinner. From the French officers captured at -Metz and their approaching transportation to Germany, -the conversation turned upon General Ducrot and his -disgraceful escape from Pont à Mousson. The Minister -said: “He has written me a long letter explaining that -there is no foundation for the charge of breach of faith -we have brought against him, but he has not materially -modified my view of the case.” The Chief then related<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[p. 271]</span> -that recently an “intermediary of Gambetta’s” had -called upon him, and that towards the close of the -conversation he asked whether we would recognise the -Republic. “I replied,” continued the Chief, “certainly, -without any doubt or hesitation. Not only the Republic, -but, if you like, a Gambetta dynasty; only it -must secure us the advantages of a safe peace.” “Or for -the matter of that any dynasty, whether it be a Bleichröder -or a Rothschild one.”</p> - -<p>The <cite lang="fr">Nouvelliste</cite> is to be stopped, and to be replaced -by a journal of larger size bearing the title, <cite lang="fr">Moniteur -Officiel de Seine et Oise</cite>, which will be published at the -expense of the Government.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, October 29th.</i>—At dinner our great success -at Metz was discussed. “That exactly doubles the -number of our prisoners,” said the Minister—“no, it -does more. We now have in Germany the army which -Napoleon had in the field at the time of the battles of -Weissenburg, Wörth, and Saarbrücken, with the exception -of those whom we killed. The troops which -the French now have were afterwards brought from -Algiers and Rome, and newly recruited, together with a -few thousand men under Vinoy who made off before -Sedan. We have also nearly all their generals.” The -Chief then said Napoleon had requested that Marshals -Bazaine, Lebœuf, and Canrobert, who had been taken -at Metz, should be sent to him at Wilhelmshöhe. The -Minister added: “That would make a whist party. I -have no objection, and shall recommend the King to do -so.” He then went on to say that so many extraordinary -events which no one could have imagined -previously were now of daily occurrence that one might -regard the most wonderful as being within the range of -possibility. “Amongst other things it might well<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[p. 272]</span> -happen that we should hold a German Reichstag in -Versailles, while Napoleon might summon the Legislative -Chamber and the Senate to Cassel to consider the terms -of peace. Napoleon is convinced that the former -representative body is still legally in existence, an -opinion against which there is little to be said, and that -he could summon it to meet wherever he liked—of -course, however, only in France. Cassel would be a -debatable question.” The Chief then said that he had -invited the representatives of the parties “with whom -it is possible to discuss matters”—Friedenthal, Bennigsen, -and Blankenburg—to come here in order to -ascertain their views respecting a session of our -Parliament at Versailles. “I was obliged to omit the -Progressist party, as they only desire what is not -possible. They are like Russians, who eat cherries in -winter and want oysters in summer. When a Russian -goes into a shop he asks for <i>Kaknje bud</i>, that is to say, -for what does not exist.”</p> - -<p>After the first course Prince Albrecht, the father, -came in and took a seat on the Chief’s right. The old -gentleman, like a genuine Prussian Prince, always -gallant and loyal to his duty, has pressed forward with -his cavalry beyond Orleans. He tells us that the -engagement in Châteaudun was “horrible.” He warmly -praised the Duke of Meiningen, who had also shirked -no danger or privation. On this the Chief remarked: -“I have nothing to say against Princes who go with -the army and as officers and leaders share the dangers -and hardships of the soldiers. But I should prefer to -see those who loaf around here at Pückler’s expense, -and who are mere spectators of the man-hunt, anywhere -rather than at headquarters. It is all the more unpleasant -to me to have them here, as they storm me<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[p. 273]</span> -with questions and force wise counsels upon me respecting -matters that are in course of development and -which are now being worked out.”... “May I ask,” -said the Prince (doubtless to get away from this subject), -“how the Countess is?” “Oh, she is quite well,” -replied the Chief, “now that our son is better. She -still suffers from her ferocious hatred of the Gauls, all -of whom she would wish to see shot and stabbed to -death, down to the little babies—who after all cannot -help having such abominable parents.”</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[p. 274]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="11">XI</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">THIERS AND THE FIRST NEGOTIATIONS FOR AN -ARMISTICE AT VERSAILLES</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara">On the morning of the 30th of October, while taking -a walk along the Avenue de Saint Cloud, I met -Bennigsen, who was to start for home with Blankenburg -in a few days. On my asking what progress had been -made in Germany with the question of unity he said -that the prospects were very good. The only point -which the Bavarians still insisted upon was a certain -degree of independence for their army. The feeling -amongst the majority of the people was all that could -be desired.</p> - -<p>On my return to the house a little after 10 o’clock -Engel told me that Thiers had arrived shortly before, -but had left again almost immediately. He had come -from Tours, and had only called to get a safe conduct -through our lines, as he wished to go to Paris. Hatzfeldt -had breakfasted with Thiers at the Hôtel des Reservoirs, -and afterwards saw him into the carriage, in which, -accompanied by Lieutenant von Winterfeldt, he was -conducted to the French outposts. He told us at lunch -that Thiers “still remained the same bright witty old -gentleman, but was weak as a baby.” Hatzfeldt had been -the first to recognise him on his calling at our place,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[p. 275]</span> -and told him that the Chief was just getting up. He -then showed him into the salon, and informed the -Minister, who hastily finished his toilet and shortly afterwards -came down. They were, however, only together -alone for a few minutes, the Chief then instructing -Hatzfeldt to make the necessary preparations for Thiers’ -visit to Paris. The Minister afterwards told Hatzfeldt -that Thiers said to him immediately after they had -exchanged greetings, that he had not come to speak to -him. “That strikes me as quite natural,” added -Hatzfeldt, “as although Thiers would like to conclude -peace with us (just because it would be Thiers’ peace, -since he is terribly ambitious) he does not know what -the people in Paris would say to it.”</p> - -<p>In the meantime the Chief had ridden off with his -cousin to the review of 9,000 Landwehr Guards which -was being held this morning by the King. At lunch -the Chief referred to the Landwehr, who had arrived -that morning, and said they were tall, broad-shouldered -fellows, who must have impressed the people of Versailles. -“The front of one of their companies is at -least five feet broader than that of a French company, -particularly in the Pomeranian Landwehr.” The -Minister then turned to Hatzfeldt, and said: “I hope -you have not mentioned anything about Metz to -Thiers.” “No, and he also said nothing about it, -although there is no doubt that he knows.” “He -certainly does, but I did not speak about it either.” -Hatzfeldt then observed once more that Thiers was very -charming in his manner, but had lost nothing of his old -vanity and self-complacency. As evidence of this -Hatzfeldt mentioned that Thiers had told him that a few -days before he met a peasant whom he asked whether he -desired to see peace concluded. “Certainly, very much.”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[p. 276]</span> -“Whether he knew who he (Thiers) was?” “No,” the -peasant replied, and appealed to a neighbour who had -come on the scene, and who passed as the oldest inhabitant. -This ancient was of opinion that <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Thiers must -be a member of the Chamber. Hatzfeldt added, “It -was obvious that Thiers was angry at not being better -known.”</p> - -<p>The Chief went out for a moment, and brought back -a case containing a gold pen, which a jeweller of -Pforzheim presented to him for the purpose of signing -the Treaty of Peace.</p> - -<p>At dinner the Chief again spoke at some length of -the possibility of holding a Session of the German -Reichstag at Versailles, while the French Legislative -Chamber should at the same time meet at Cassel. -Delbrück observed that the hall of the Diet at Cassel -would not be large enough for such an assembly. “Well -then,” said the Chief, “the Senate could meet somewhere -else—in Marburg or Fritzlar, or some similar -town.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, October 31st.</i>—In the morning wrote some -articles, one of which advocated the idea of an international -court for the trial of those who had instigated -this war against us. Also directed attention to the case -of <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Hermieux, the commandant of a French battalion, -who like Ducrot had broken his word by making his -escape from hospital, and whose description was now -published in the newspapers.</p> - -<p>Gauthier called again at 12 o’clock, and had another -long interview with the Chief.</p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt announced at tea that on paying a visit -early in the evening at the Hôtel des Reservoirs he -learned by accident that <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Thiers had returned, and -he had afterwards spoken to him. Thiers informed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[p. 277]</span> -him that on the day before he had been engaged from -10 o’clock at night until 3 in the morning in negotiating -with the members of the Provisional Government; -he rose again at 6 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> and from that time -until 2 in the afternoon received visitors of all descriptions, -after which he drove back here. He wishes to -have a conference with the Chancellor to-morrow. “He -began to speak of disturbances having taken place -yesterday in Paris,” continued Hatzfeldt, “but on an -exclamation of surprise escaping me he immediately -changed the subject.”</p> - -<p>In the evening I was instructed to see that the -decree addressed to Vogel von Falkenstein and published -in the <cite lang="de">Staatsanzeiger</cite> of the 27th instant, was reproduced -by our other papers. It was to be accompanied by -a collection of newspaper reports respecting the ill-treatment -of German prisoners by the French. I then -began a second article against Beust’s intervention in -our quarrel with the French, based on the suggestions -of the Chief, who said it was to be “very sharply -worded.” This however was not sent off, as the situation -altered in the meantime. I reproduce the article -here as being characteristic of the position of affairs at -the moment. It ran as follows:—</p> - -<p>“If in a struggle between two Powers, one of whom -proves obviously weaker and is at length on the point -of being defeated, a third Power, which has hitherto -been neutral, urges an armistice, its motive must certainly -be regarded less as a benevolent desire for the -welfare of both parties than as anxiety for the weaker -State and as evident partisanship in favour of the same. -It is, in fact, an armistice in favour of the Power that is -on the point of being defeated, and to the disadvantage -of that which has won the upper hand. If this third<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[p. 278]</span> -Power furthermore endeavours to induce other neutral -States to take similar action, thus strengthening and -giving more weight to its own proposal, then it is -clearly departing still further from a neutral attitude. -Its one-sided warnings are transformed into partisan -pressure, its proceedings become intrigues, and its whole -action presents an appearance of threatened violence.</p> - -<p>“This is the case with Austria-Hungary if it be -true, as the Vienna official organs boast, that it has -taken the initiative in an attempt of the neutral Powers -to negotiate an armistice between defeated France and -victorious Germany. The conduct of Count Beust -becomes more clearly offensive when it is known that it -was suggested by <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Chaudordy, Favre’s representative -at Tours, and originated in a previous understanding -between the Vienna Cabinet and the Delegation of the -Provisional Government in that city. The true character -of this action on the part of Austro-Hungarian -diplomacy as a hostile interference in our settlement -with France becomes more manifest from the manner in -which its representative in Berlin supports the English -suggestions. The British Foreign Office adopts a tone -of perfect impartiality, and of benevolence towards -Germany; the Italians do the same, while the Russian -representative has kept entirely aloof from all intervention. -All three Powers have done their utmost at -Tours to promote an unprejudiced and reasonable view -of the situation on the part of the French. On the -other hand, the despatches read by Herr von Wimpffen -in Berlin (we do not know what Austria-Hungary has -advised at Tours) speak in a tone which is anything but -friendly. They emphasise the statement that Vienna -still believes in general European interests. The authorities -there fear that history would condemn the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[p. 279]</span> -neutral Powers if the catastrophe which is threatening -Paris were to occur without a voice being raised on -their part to avert it. It is evidently intended as a -severe and offensive censure when they say humanity -demands that the conditions of peace should be made -less onerous for the vanquished, but that Germany will -not permit any voice to reach the ears of its defeated -foe except that which proclaims the commands of the -victor. The whole despatch is characterised throughout -by a vein of irony which distinguishes it in a manner -little to its advantage from that of the English Government.</p> - -<p>“From all these circumstances it is as clear that the -action of Count Beust is guided by hostile intentions -towards us as that Lord Granville’s attitude is based on -good will. We wonder if the Vienna Chancellor well -considered the possible consequences of this new -manœuvre. It is not probable after the fall of Metz -that the attempt made by Austria to hinder Germany -in the complete attainment of that peace which we have -in view with the object of securing a safe Western -frontier will be successful. But we shall remember -that attempts to prejudice our interests and the good -impression made in Germany by the previous neutrality -of Austria-Hungary will be destroyed, and a friendly -<i lang="fr">rapprochement</i> with the dual monarchy, a basis for -which was being laid, will be postponed—probably for -a considerable time. But let us consider another -possibility. Take it that through the intervention of -Count Beust the demands which we make upon France -are curtailed, and that we are actually obliged to renounce -a portion of the old and new debts which we -are on the point of collecting—does the Chancellor of -the Austro-Hungarian Empire believe that we shall not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[p. 280]</span> -remember at the first opportunity to make our ill-disposed -neighbour on the South-East compensate us -for what he helped to deprive us of in the West? Does -he believe that we shall foolishly put off the day of -reckoning with a neighbour who takes every opportunity -of displaying his hostility, until his French -<i lang="fr">protégé</i> has recovered sufficiently to give him the -support of a more valuable alliance in gratitude for the -assistance given against Germany?”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, November 1st.</i>—At dinner Bohlen reported -that the Coburger is doing his utmost to create a feeling -of discontent—he says nothing happens, nothing is -being done, no progress is being made. “What! -He!” exclaimed the Chief, with an indescribable -expression of contempt on his features. “He should -be ashamed of himself. These Princes that follow -the army like a flight of vultures! These carrion -crows, who themselves do nothing whatever except -inspect the battle-fields, &c.” Some one then spoke -of the last engagement, and said that a portion of -the 1200 prisoners that had been taken were -franctireurs. “Prisoners!” broke in the Chief, who -still seemed to be extremely angry. “Why do they -continue to make prisoners? They should have shot -down the whole 1200 one after the other.”</p> - -<p>Mention was made of the decree of the Minister of -War or of the Commandant of the Town, ordering that -particulars should be published of all valuables found -in houses deserted by their owners, and that if not reclaimed -within a certain time they were to be confiscated -for the benefit of the war chest. The Minister -said that he considered this decree to be perfectly -justified, adding: “As a matter of fact such houses -should be burned to the ground, only that punishment<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[p. 281]</span> -would also fall in part on the sensible people who have -remained behind; and so unfortunately it is out of the -question.” The Chief then observed, after a pause, -and apparently without any connection with what had -been previously said: “After all, war is, properly -speaking, the natural condition of humanity.” He -remained silent for a while, and then remarked: “It -just occurs to me that the Bavarian proposes to surprise -me to-day,” by which he meant that Count Bray was -about to visit him. This led the conversation to the -Bavarian Ambassador in Berlin, Pergler von Perglas, of -whom the Chief does not appear to have a high opinion. -“He is as bad as he can be. I do not say that because -he is a Particularist, as I do not know how I should -think myself if I were a Bavarian. But he has always -been in favour of the French.” (The Minister maintained, -if I heard him rightly, that this was owing to -his wife.) “I never tell him anything when he comes -to me, or at least not the truth.”</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards the Chief told us that Thiers -had been with him for about three hours to-day with -the object of negotiating an armistice. Probably however -it would not be possible to come to an understanding -as to the conditions which he proposes or is -prepared to grant. Once during the conversation -Thiers wished to speak of the supply of provisions now -in Paris; but the Minister interrupted him, saying, -“Excuse me, but we know that better than you who -have only been in the city for one day. Their store of -provisions is sufficient to last until the end of January.” -“What a look of surprise he gave me! My remark -was only a feeler, and his astonishment showed that -what I had said was not true.”</p> - -<p>At dessert the Minister spoke of the large quantity<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[p. 282]</span> -he had eaten. “But then it is my only meal. It is -true I take breakfast, but then it is merely a cup of -tea without milk and two eggs,—and after that nothing -till evening. Then I over-eat myself, like a boa-constrictor, -and can’t sleep. Even as a child, and ever -since that time, I have always gone to bed late, never -before midnight. I usually fall asleep quickly, but -wake soon again and find that it is not more than half-past -1 o’clock. All sorts of things then come into -my head, particularly if I have been unfairly treated,—and -that must be all thought out. I afterwards write -letters, and even despatches, but of course without -getting up—simply in my head. Formerly, for some -time after my appointment as Minister, I used to get -up and actually write them down. When I read them -over next morning however they were worth nothing,—mere -platitudes, confused trivial stuff such as might -have appeared in the <cite lang="de">Vossische Zeitung</cite>, or might have -been composed by his Serene Highness of Weimar. -I do not want to, I should prefer to sleep. But the -thinking and planning goes on. At the first glimmer -of dawn I fall off again, and then sleep till 10 o’clock -or even later.”</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, November 2nd.</i>—On returning from a -long walk at about 4.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> I heard that Thiers had -remained with the Chief until a few minutes before, -and looked rather pleased on taking his leave. During -dinner the Minister observed, referring to his visitor of -to-day: “He is a clever and amiable man, bright and -witty, but with scarcely a trace of the diplomatist—too -sentimental for that trade.” “He is unquestionably -a finer nature than Favre. But he is no good as a -negotiator (<i lang="de">Unterhändler</i>)—not even as a horsedealer -(<i lang="de">Pferdehändler</i>).” “He is too easily bluffed, betrays<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[p. 283]</span> -his feelings, and allows himself to be pumped. Thus -I have ascertained all sorts of things from him, amongst -others that they have only full rations in Paris for -three or four weeks.”</p> - -<p>With respect to our attitude towards the approaching -French elections, I called attention in the press to -the following example, which may decide us to exclude -Alsace-Lorraine from the voting, and to which we can -refer those who allege such an exclusion to be unprecedented. -An American informs us that in the last war -between the United States and Mexico an armistice was -agreed upon with the object of giving the Mexicans time -to choose a new Government, which should conclude -peace with the United States. The provinces, the -cession of which was demanded by the United States, -were not permitted to take part in this election. This -is the sole precedent, but it entirely covers the present -case.</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, November 3rd.</i>—A fine bright morning. -Already at 7 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> the iron lions on Mont Valérien began -to fill the surrounding wooded valleys with their -roaring.</p> - -<p>I make abstracts for the King of two articles that -appeared in the <cite>Morning Post</cite> of the 28th and 29th of -October, which are understood to have come from -Persigny or Prince Napoleon. The assertion in these -articles that in the negotiations with the delegate of the -Empress our demand extended only to Strassburg, and -a narrow strip of land in the Saar district, with about a -quarter of a million inhabitants, is (the Chief tells me) -based on a misunderstanding.</p> - -<p>I am instructed to telegraph that in consequence of -yesterday’s negotiations the Chancellor has offered <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> -Thiers a truce of twenty-five days on the basis of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[p. 284]</span> -military <i lang="la">status quo</i>. Thiers returned at 12 o’clock, and -negotiated with the Chief until 2.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> The demands -of the French are exorbitant. At lunch we hear that -in addition to a twenty-eight days’ armistice for the -elections and the meeting of the National Assembly -thus chosen to determine the position of the Provisional -Government, they demand nothing less than the right -to provision Paris and all other fortresses held by them -and besieged by us, and the participation of the Eastern -provinces, of which we require the cession in the -elections. Ordinary logic finds it difficult to conceive -how the provisioning of fortresses can be deemed consistent -with the maintenance of the military <i lang="la">status quo</i>.</p> - -<p>Amongst other subjects discussed at dinner were the -elections in Berlin. Delbrück was of opinion that they -would be more favourable than hitherto. Jacoby, at any -rate, would not be re-elected. Count Bismarck-Bohlen -thought otherwise. He anticipated no change. The -Chancellor said: “The Berliners must always be in -opposition and have their own ideas. They have their virtues—many -and highly estimable ones—they fight well, -but they would not consider themselves to be as clever -as they ought to be unless they knew everything better -than the Government.” That failing, however, was not -confined to Berliners, the Chief added. All great cities -were much the same in that respect, and many were even -worse than Berlin. They were in general more unpractical -than the rural districts, where people were in closer -contact with nature, and thus not only got into a more -natural and practical way of thinking. “Where great -numbers of men are crowded together they easily lose -their individuality and dissolve into one mass. All sorts -of opinions are in the air, they arise from hearsay and -repetition, and are little or not at all founded on facts,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[p. 285]</span> -but are propagated by the newspapers, popular meetings -and conversations over beer, and then remain firmly, -immutably rooted. It is a sort of false second nature, a -faith or superstition held collectively by the masses. -They reason themselves into believing in something -that does not exist, consider themselves in duty bound -to hold to that belief, and wax enthusiastic over narrow-minded -and grotesque ideas. That is the case in all -great cities, in London for instance, where the cockneys -are quite a different race to other Englishmen—in -Copenhagen, in New York, and above all in Paris. The -Parisians, with their political superstitions, are quite a -distinct people in France,—they are caught and bound -up in a circle of ideas which are a sacred tradition to -them, although when closely examined they turn out to -be mere empty phrases.”</p> - -<p>So far as Thiers was concerned, the Minister only -told us that shortly after the commencement of their -conference to-day he suddenly asked him whether he -had obtained the authority necessary for the continuance -of the negotiations. “He looked at me in astonishment, -on which I said that news had been received at our outposts -of a revolution having broken out in Paris since -his departure, and that a new Government had been -proclaimed. He was visibly perturbed, from which it -may be inferred that he considers a victory of the Red -Republicans as possible, and the position of Favre and -Trochu as insecure.”</p> - -<p>Thiers was again with the Chief from 9 o’clock till -after 10.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, November 4th.</i>—Beautiful bright morning. -At the desire of the Minister I send the <cite>Daily News</cite> an -account of his conversation with Napoleon at Donchery. -He had principally conversed with the Emperor within<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[p. 286]</span> -the weaver’s house, upstairs—for about three-quarters of -an hour—and spent but a short time with him in the -open air, as the Minister himself stated in his official -report to the King. Furthermore, in speaking to -Napoleon, he had not pointed the forefinger of the left -hand into the palm of his right, which was not at all a -habit of his. He had not once made use of the German -language in speaking to the Emperor—he had never -done so, and also not on that occasion. “I did, however,” -the Minister continued, “speak German to the people of -the house, as the man understood a little and the woman -spoke it very well.”</p> - -<p>From 11 o’clock onwards Thiers conferred once more -with the Chancellor. He yesterday sent his companion, -a <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Cochery, back to Paris, to ascertain if the Government -of the 4th of September still existed. The answer -appears to have been in the affirmative.</p> - -<p>Bamberger dined with us. The Chief said, amongst -other things: “I see that some newspapers hold me -responsible that Paris has not yet been bombarded. I -do not want anything serious to be done, I object to a -bombardment. Nonsense! They will ultimately make -me responsible for our losses during the siege, which are -certainly already considerable, as we have probably lost -more men in these small engagements than a general -attack would have cost us. I wanted the city to be -stormed at once, and have all along desired that to be -done—or it would have been still better to have left -Paris on one side and continued our march.”</p> - -<p>Thiers was once more with the Chief from 9 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> -until after 11 o’clock. While they were conferring a -telegram arrived announcing that Beust has abandoned -his former attitude in so far as he declares that if Russia -raises objections to the Prussian demands upon France,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[p. 287]</span> -Austria will do the same, but otherwise not. This -telegram was at once sent in to the Chief.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, November 5th.</i>—About 1 o’clock there -was a short conference between the Chancellor, Delbrück, -and other German Ministers. We afterwards ascertained -that the Chief reported the result of his negotiations -with Thiers, and also announced the impending arrival -of the German Sovereigns not yet represented at -Versailles.</p> - -<p>On our sitting down to dinner Delbrück was at first -the only Minister present. Later on we were joined by -the Chancellor, who had dined with the King. While -Engel was pouring him out a glass of spirits the Chief -recalled a pretty dictum. Recently a general (if I am -not mistaken it was at Ferrières, and I fancy I heard -the name of the great thinker, Moltke), speaking of the -various beverages of mankind, laid down the following -principle:—“Red wine for children, champagne for -men, and brandy for generals.”</p> - -<p>The Chancellor, who had been dining with the King, -joined us in the evening and complained to Delbrück of -the way in which he had been beset at the King’s -quarters by the Princes, who prevented him from discussing -something of importance with Kutusow. “I -really could not talk to him properly. The Serene -Highnesses fluttered about me like crows round a -screech-owl, and tore me away from him. Each of -them seemed to delight in being able to buttonhole me -longer than the others. At length I asked Prince -Charles if he could not get his brother-in-law to wait -until I had finished what I had to say to Kutusow, as -it was an important matter of State. But although I -have often spoken to him previously in the same sense -he did not seem to understand me, and the end of it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[p. 288]</span> -was that he took offence.”... “At last they heard that -the leg or the back of the old coronation chair had been -discovered in one of the other rooms, and they all -trooped off to inspect the wonder, while I took this -opportunity to bolt.” At that moment a despatch was -delivered stating that Favre and the other members of -the Government in Paris had once more got on the high -horse, and proclaimed that they would not hear of a -cession of territory, and that their sole task was -the defence of the fatherland. The Chief observed: -“Well, then, we need not negotiate any further with -Thiers.”</p> - -<p>Later on the Minister said that Thiers probably still -intended to write another historical work. “Time after -time he spins out our negotiation by introducing irrelevant -matters. He relates what has occurred or been -advised here and there, inquires as to the attitude of -this or that person, and what would have happened in -such and such circumstances. He reminded me of a -conversation I had with the Duc de Bauffremont in the -year 1867, in the course of which I said that in 1866 -the Emperor had not understood how to take advantage -of the situation, that he could have done a good stroke -of business although not on German soil, &c. Roughly -that is quite correct. I remember it very well. It was -in the gardens of the Tuileries, and a military band was -playing. In the summer of 1866 Napoleon lacked -courage to do what he ought to have done from his -point of view. When we attacked Austria he should -have occupied ——, the object of the Benedetti proposal, -and held it as a pledge. We could not have prevented -him at that time, and most probably England would -not have stirred—in any case he could have waited. If -the <i lang="fr">coup</i> succeeded he might have placed himself back<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[p. 289]</span> -to back with us, encouraging us to further aggression. -But (turning to Delbrück, first leaning a little forward -and then sitting straight upright, a habit of his on such -occasions), he is and remains a muddle-headed fellow.”</p> - -<p>Thiers, after having had a conversation with Favre -and Ducrot on the bridge of Sèvres, returned and had -another conference with the Chief which lasted from -8.30 to 9.30. Favre and Ducrot had declared that our -conditions for an armistice could not be accepted, but -that they would ascertain the opinions of their colleagues, -and bring Thiers a definite answer to-morrow.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, November 6th.</i>—The Chief read to us at -dinner a portion of his wife’s letter which was to the -following effect:—“I fear you will not be able to find a -Bible in France, and so I shall shortly send you the Psalms -in order that you may read the prophecies against the -French—‘I tell thee, the godless shall be destroyed!’” -The Minister had also received a “despairing letter” -from Count Herbert, whose wound was now healed, -because he had been transferred to a depôt. “He says -that all he has had out of the whole war has been a -fortnight’s ride with his regiment and then three -months on his back. I wished to see whether anything -could be done, and to-day I met the Minister of War. -He dissuaded me, however, with tears in his eyes—he -had once interfered in a similar way and lost his son in -consequence.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, November 7th.</i>—Early in the morning the -Chief instructs me to telegraph to London: “In the -negotiations with <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Thiers, which lasted for five days, -he was offered an armistice of any duration up to twenty-eight -days on the basis of the military <i lang="la">status quo</i>, for -the purpose of holding elections, which should also be -allowed to take place in the portions of France occupied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[p. 290]</span> -by the German troops; or, as an alternative, our assistance -and sanction for holding the elections without a -truce. After a renewed conference with the Paris -Government at the outposts, <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Thiers was not authorised -to accept either of these offers. He demanded -first of all permission to provision Paris, without -offering any military equivalent. As this proposal -could not be accepted by the Germans on military -grounds, <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Thiers yesterday received instructions from -Paris to break off the negotiations.”</p> - -<p>The following particulars have been ascertained -from other sources: The instruction referred to, was -received by Thiers in the form of a curt letter from -Favre desiring him to return to Tours, whither he has -gone, to-day. The Chancellor tells me that Thiers was -very depressed at the foolish obstinacy of the Paris -Government, of which both he himself and several of -the Ministers disapprove. Favre and Picard, particularly -the latter, are desirous of peace, but are too weak -to withstand the opposition of the others. Gambetta -and Trochu will not hear of the elections, which would -in all probability put an end to their rule.</p> - -<p>I write articles to the following effect: We were -prepared to do everything possible, but all our concessions -were rejected owing to the ambition of <abbr title="Messieurs" lang="fr">MM.</abbr> Favre -and Trochu, who do not want to be forced by the true -representatives of the French people to give up the -power which fell into their hands through an insurrection. -It is that ambition alone which prolongs the war. -We, on the other hand, have shown that we desire -peace, by carrying our complaisance to the utmost -point.</p> - -<p>The postponement of the bombardment was again -discussed at dinner. The Chancellor said he could not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[p. 291]</span> -understand the absurd rumour circulated in the newspapers, -to the effect that he was opposed to the bombardment -while the military authorities were pressing -for it. “Exactly the contrary is the case. No one is -more urgent in favour of it than I am, and it is the -military authorities who hesitate. A great deal of my -correspondence is taken up in dispelling the scruples -and excessive circumspection of the military people. -It appears that the artillery are constantly requiring -more time for preparation and particularly a larger -supply of ammunition. At Strassburg, they also asked -for much more than was necessary, as notwithstanding -the foolish waste of powder and shell, two-thirds of the -supply collected was never used.” Alten objected that -even if the forts in question were captured they would -be then subjected to the fire from the enceinte, and we -should have to begin over again. “That may be,” said -the Minister, “but they ought to have known that -sooner, as there was no fortress we knew so much about -from the commencement as Paris.”</p> - -<p>Somebody remarked that in the two balloons that -had been seized five persons had been taken prisoners. -The Chief considered that they ought to be treated as -spies without any lengthy deliberation. Alten said they -would be brought up before a court-martial, whereupon -the Minister exclaimed, “Well, nothing will happen to -them there!” He then observed how stout and strong -Count Bill was. At his age he himself was slight and -thin. “At Göttingen I was as thin as a knitting-needle.” -Mention having been made of the circumstance -that the sentry posted outside the villa occupied by the -Crown Prince had been shot at and wounded the night -before, and that the town would be obliged to pay him -five thousand francs as compensation, the Chief said that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[p. 292]</span> -in going out in the evening he would not take his sword -but rather a revolver—“as although in certain circumstances -I should be quite willing to let myself be -murdered, I should not like to die unavenged.”</p> - -<p>After dinner I was instructed by the Chancellor to -again telegraph an account of the negotiations with -Thiers, only in a somewhat different form. On my -venturing to observe that the contents of the despatch -had been telegraphed in the morning he replied, “Not -quite accurately; you see here ‘Count Bismarck proposed, -&c.’ You must notice such fine shades if you want to -work in the first Foreign Office of the world.”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, November 8th.</i>—In the morning I sent off -a telegram stating that the prisoners taken in the -balloons have been transported to a Prussian fortress in -order to be tried there by court-martial. Furthermore -that the confiscated letters compromised diplomats and -other personages who have been permitted to remain in -communication with the outer world out of consideration -for their position and sense of honour. Such communication -would no longer be tolerated.</p> - -<p>At about 12.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, while we were at lunch, the -Chief received a visit from Archbishop Ledochowski of -Posen, and it was understood that his business was to -submit an offer of the Pope to intervene with the French -Government. They probably hope in this way to -purchase the intervention of the German Government on -behalf of the Holy Father. The Archbishop remained -till nearly 3 o’clock, and on his leaving the Chief went -to see the King. He subsequently took dinner at the -Crown Prince’s, where the Grand Duke of Baden, who -had arrived in the meantime, also dined.</p> - -<p>Delbrück, General Chauvin, and Colonel Meidam, the -officer in command of the Field Telegraph, were the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[p. 293]</span> -Chief’s guests at dinner. Mention was made of the -improper use of the telegraph wire by distinguished -personages for their private purposes.</p> - -<p>After a while the Chancellor remarked: “I hear that -the Augustenburger also telegraphs. That really should -not be. Nor has the Coburger any right to do so. The -telegraph is for military and diplomatic purposes, and not -for minor potentates to use for inquiries respecting their -kitchens, stables and theatres. None of them has any -rights here. Their rights ceased on passing the German -frontier.”</p> - -<p>On some one referring to the destruction of the -telegraph wires and other similar misconduct on the -part of franctireurs and peasants near Epernay, the -Minister said: “They should have immediately sent three -or four battalions there, and transported six thousand -peasants to Germany until the conclusion of the war.”</p> - -<p>Amongst other subjects discussed at tea was the -rumour that the postponement of the bombardment was -in part due to the influence of ladies, the Queen and the -Crown Princess being mentioned in this connection. The -Chief was in the drawing-room engaged in conference -with the Bavarian General von Bothmer on the military -question in connection with the closer unification of -Germany now in progress. The Minister joined us -afterwards, remaining for about an hour. On sitting -down he breathed a deep sigh and said: “I was thinking -just now, what I have indeed often thought before—If -I could only for five minutes have the power to say: -‘That must be done thus and in no other way!’—If one -were only not compelled to bother about the ‘why’ -and the ‘wherefore,’ and to argue and plead for the -simplest things!—Things made much more rapid progress -under men like Frederick the Great, who were generals<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[p. 294]</span> -themselves and also knew something about administration, -acting as their own Ministers. It was the same -with Napoleon. But here, this eternal talking and -begging!”</p> - -<p>After a while the Chief said, with a laugh: “I have -been busy to-day educating princes.”</p> - -<p>“How so, Excellency?” asked Hatzfeldt.</p> - -<p>“Well, I have explained to various gentlemen at the -Hôtel des Reservoirs what is and what is not proper. I -have given the Meininger to understand through Stein -that he is not to be allowed to use the Field Telegraph -for giving instructions about his kitchen garden and -theatre. And the Coburger is still worse. Never -mind, the Reichstag will set that right and put a stop -to all that kind of thing. But only I shall not be -there.”</p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt asked: “Has your Excellency seen that -the Italians have broken into the Quirinal?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and I am curious to know what the Pope will -now do. Leave the country? But where can he go? -He has already requested us to ask the Italians whether -he would be allowed to leave and with fitting dignity. -We did so, and they replied that the utmost respect -would be paid to his position, and that their attitude -would be governed by that determination in case he -desired to depart.”</p> - -<p>“They would not like to see him go,” added Hatzfeldt; -“it is in their interests that he should remain in -Rome.”</p> - -<p>The Chief: “Yes, certainly. But perhaps he may -be obliged to leave. But where could he go? Not to -France, because Garibaldi is there. He would not like -to go to Austria. To Spain? I suggested to him -Bavaria.” The Minister then reflected for a moment,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[p. 295]</span> -after which he continued: “There remains nothing for -him but Belgium or North Germany. As a matter of -fact he has already asked whether we could grant -him asylum. I have no objection to it—Cologne or -Fulda. It would be passing strange, but after all not -so very inexplicable, and it would be very useful to us -to be recognised by Catholics as what we really are, -that is to say, the sole power now existing that is capable -of protecting the head of their Church. Stofflet and -Charette, together with their Zouaves, could then go -about their business. We should have the Poles on our -side. The opposition of the Ultramontanes would cease -in Belgium and Bavaria. Malinkrott would come over -to the Government side. But the King will not consent. -He is terribly afraid. He thinks all Prussia would be -perverted, and he himself would be obliged to become a -Catholic. I told him, however, that if the Pope begged -for asylum he could not refuse it. He would have to -grant it as ruler over ten million Catholic subjects who -would desire to see the head of their Church protected. -Besides, imaginative people, particularly women, may -possibly feel drawn towards Catholicism by the pomp -and ritual of St. Peter’s, with the Pope seated upon his -throne and bestowing his benediction. The danger -would not be so great, however, in Germany, where the -people would see the Pope amongst them as a poor old -man seeking assistance—a good old gentleman, one of -the Bishops, who ate and drank like the rest, took his -pinch of snuff, and even perhaps smoked a cigar. And -after all even if a few people in Germany became -Catholic again (I should certainly not do so) it would -not matter much so long as they remained believing -Christians. The particular sect is of no consequence, -only the faith. People ought to be more tolerant in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[p. 296]</span> -their way of thinking.” The Chief then dilated on the -comic aspect of this migration of the Pope and his -Cardinals to Fulda, and concluded: “Of course the -King could not see the humorous side of the affair. -But (smiling) if only the Pope remains true to me I -shall know how to bring his Majesty round.”</p> - -<p>Some other subjects then came up. Hatzfeldt mentioned -that his Highness of Coburg had fallen from his -horse. “Happily, however, without being hurt,” -hastily added Abeken, with a pleased expression. This -led the Chief to speak of similar accidents that had -happened to himself.</p> - -<p>“I believe I shall be more than within the mark in -saying that I must have fallen from horseback fifty -times. It is nothing to be thrown from your horse, -but when the horse lies on top of you, then it’s a bad -case. The last time was at Varzin, when I broke three -ribs. I thought it was all up with me. It was not, -however, so dangerous as it seemed, but it was terribly -painful.... But as a young man I had a remarkable -accident, which shows how our thinking powers are -dependent upon the brain. I was riding home one -evening with my brother, and we were both galloping -as hard as our horses could go. Suddenly my brother, -who was in front, heard a fearful bang. It was my -head that had struck against the road. My horse had -shied at a lantern in a cart coming in the opposite -direction, and reared so that he fell backwards, and I -tumbled on my head. At first I lost consciousness, and -on returning to my senses my power of thinking remained -on some points quite clear, but had quite deserted -me on others. I examined my horse and found -that the saddle was broken, so I called the groom and -rode home on his horse. When the dogs there barked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[p. 297]</span> -at me by way of greeting, I thought they did not belong -to us, got cross with them and drove them away. Then -I said the groom had fallen from his horse and they -should send a stretcher to bring in; and I got very -angry when, taking their cue from my brother, they -showed no disposition to move. Were they going to -leave the unfortunate man lying in the road? I did -not know that I was myself and was at home, or rather -I was both myself and the groom. I asked for something -to eat and afterwards went to bed. After having -slept through the night I woke up next morning all -right again. It was a strange case. I had examined -the saddle, taken another horse, and so forth. I had -done everything that was practically required. In that -respect the fall had produced no confusion in my ideas. -A singular example which shows that the brain harbours -various intellectual powers—only one of these had remained -stupefied by my fall for a somewhat longer -time.</p> - -<p>“I well remember another incident of the kind. I -was riding rapidly through some young timber in a -large wood a considerable distance from home. As I -was crossing over a hollow road the horse stumbled and -fell, and I lost consciousness. I must have lain there -senseless for about three hours, as it was already twilight -by the time I stirred. The horse was standing -near me. As I said, the place was at a great distance -from our estate, and I was entirely unacquainted with -the district. I had not yet quite recovered my senses, -but on this occasion also I did what was necessary. I -took off the martingale, which was broken, and followed -the road across a rather long bridge which, as I then -ascertained, was the nearest way to a farm in the neighbourhood. -The farmer’s wife ran away on seeing a big<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[p. 298]</span> -man standing before her with his face all covered with -blood. Her husband, however, came to me and wiped -away the blood. I told him who I was, and as I was -hardly fit for such a long ride home I asked him to -drive me there, which he accordingly did. I must -have been shot fifteen feet out of the saddle and -fallen against the root of a tree. On the doctor -examining my injuries, he said it was against all the -rules of his art that I had not broken my neck.</p> - -<p>“I have also been a couple of other times in danger -of my life,” continued the Chief. “For instance, before -the Semmering railway was finished (I believe it was -in 1852) I went with a party through one of the -tunnels. It was quite dark inside. I went ahead with -a lantern. Now right across the floor of the tunnel -was a rift or gully, which must have been about fifteen -feet deep and half as wide again as this table. A plank -was laid across it, with a raised skirting board on both -sides to prevent the wheelbarrows from slipping off. -This plank must have been rotten, as when I reached -the middle it broke in two and I fell down; but having -probably involuntarily stretched out my arms, I -remained hanging on the skirting. The lantern having -gone out, those behind thought I had fallen into the -gully, and were not a little surprised when the reply -to their question, ‘Are you still alive?’ instead of -coming from the depths below came from just under -their feet. I answered, ‘Yes, here I am.’ I had in the -meantime recovered hold also with my feet, and I asked -whether I should go on or come back. The guide -thought I had better go on to the other side, and so I -worked my way over. The workman who acted as our -guide then struck a light, got another plank, and -brought the party across. That plank was a good<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[p. 299]</span> -example of the slovenly way in which such things were -managed in Austria at that time; because I cannot -believe that it was intentional. I was not hated in -Vienna then as I am now—on the contrary.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, November 10th.</i>—In the morning I am -instructed by the Chief to telegraph that great distress -has been occasioned in France, and that still more is to -be anticipated, in consequence of the application by the -Provisional Government of Savings Bank funds for the -relief of the poor, and of the property of corporations, to -military purposes. I had permission to study the documents -connected with the abortive negotiations for an -armistice.</p> - -<p>Thiers had stated in a memorandum the principles -which he, and the French Government which he represented, -regarded as a basis for the proposed armistice. -It was to the following effect: The object of the understanding -was to put an end as soon as possible to the -bloodshed, and to permit the convocation of a National -Assembly which would represent the will of France in -dealing with the European Powers, and be in a position -sooner or later to conclude peace with Prussia and her -allies. The armistice must last for twenty-eight days, of -which twelve would be required for canvassing the constituencies, -one for the polling, five for the elected -deputies to meet in some given place, and ten for -examining the returns and appointing the bureau of the -Assembly. Tours might for the present remain the seat -of such an Assembly. The elections must be allowed to -take place free and unhindered in all parts of France, -including those occupied by the Prussians. Military -operations on both sides to cease, although both parties -would be at liberty to enlist recruits and proceed with -works of defence. The armies to be at liberty to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[p. 300]</span> -obtain for themselves supplies of provisions, but requisitions -on the other hand to be suspended as “constituting -a military operation which should cease together with -other hostilities.” Moreover fortified places were to be -provisioned for the duration of the truce in proportion -to the strength of the population and garrison. For -this purpose Paris to be allowed to receive the following -live stock and other provisions over four railway lines -to be determined: 34,000 bullocks, 80,000 sheep, 8,000 -pigs, 5,000 calves, 100,000 metric centals of corned -meat, 8,000,000 metric centals of hay or straw as fodder -for the cattle in question, 200,000 metric centals of -flour, 30,000 metric centals of dried vegetables, 100,000 -tons of coal, and 500,000 cubic metres of fire-wood. In -these calculations the population of Paris and its -suburbs, including the garrison of 400,000 men, was -estimated at 2,700,000 to 2,800,000 inhabitants.</p> - -<p>These demands on the part of the French could not -be accepted. Had we agreed to them we should have -surrendered the greater and more important portion of -the advantages we had gained in the last seven weeks, -at the cost of great sacrifices and severe exertions. In -other words, we should in the main have returned to -the position in which we were on the 19th of September, -the day on which our troops completed the investment -of Paris. We are asked to allow Paris to provision -itself, when even now it suffers from scarcity and will -shortly be obliged to starve or surrender. We are to -suspend our military operations just at the moment -when the fall of Metz and the release of the army of -Prince Frederick Charles enable us to extend and render -them more effective. We are quietly to permit recruiting -and organisation, by means of which the French -Republic is to create a new field force, while we require<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[p. 301]</span> -no recruits. At the same time that we are to allow -Paris and the other French fortresses to supply themselves -with provisions, we are to provide for our own -troops without the requisitions which are necessary in -an enemy’s country. We are to make all these concessions -without any military equivalent—such, for -instance, as the evacuation of one or two of the Paris -forts in return for the liberty to provision the city—and -without being offered any clear prospect of peace. -The first object of the armistice according to the Thiers -memorandum, namely, the restoration of an orderly -state of affairs by the lawful election of a Constituent -Assembly, is unquestionably more in the interest of the -French themselves than in ours; and, considering the -constant excitement maintained by the inflammatory -proclamations of the Provisional Government, it may -possibly not be secured even under a new administration. -More orderly conditions could be brought about -even now without a truce if the present Government -were seriously disposed to work in that direction. It -was absolutely impossible on the German side to have -anything to do with such proposals. A different -arrangement altogether was needful, and therefore the -Chancellor of the Confederation offered <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Thiers a -truce of twenty-five to twenty-eight days on the basis -of the maintenance of the military <i lang="la">status quo</i>, which -would enable the French to carry on the elections in -peace, and to convoke the Assembly thus constituted. -This also was a concession on our part in which the -advantages were all on the French side. If, as Thiers -asserted, Paris was supplied with provisions and other -necessaries for several months, it is not easy to see -why the Provisional Government broke off the negotiations -which, at the outside, would have prevented the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[p. 302]</span> -Parisians from making useless sorties. France, on the -other hand, would have had the great advantage of -having a line of demarcation drawn which would have -arrested the advance of the German forces, restricting -the unopposed occupation of further districts by our -army that had been set free by the fall of Metz. In -the meantime Thiers refused this very acceptable offer, -and maintained that the provisioning of Paris was an -indispensable condition for an understanding, while he -was not empowered to give any prospect of a military -equivalent for the same, such as the evacuation of one -of the Paris forts.</p> - -<p>On coming in to dinner, the Chief mentioned that -the Minister of War is seriously ill. He feels very weak, -and will scarcely be able to rise from his bed for a fortnight. -The Count afterwards made some jokes about -the water supplied to us for washing. “The inhabitants -of the local reservoir,” he said, “seem to have -their seasons. First came the scolopendria, which are -particularly distasteful to me, ‘moving their thousand -limbs together’ (Schiller’s Diver). Then followed the -wood lice, which I cannot bear to touch, although they -are perfectly harmless. I’d sooner grasp a snake. Now -the leeches have arrived. I found quite a small specimen -to-day, doubled up into a button. I tried to induce -him to deploy, but he declined—remained a button. I -then poured some well water over him, and he stretched -out straight, long and thin like a needle, and made off -with himself.” The conversation then turned on a -variety of simple but nevertheless estimable delicacies, -such as fresh and salt herrings, new potatoes, spring -butter, &c. The Minister observed to Delbrück, who -also approved of those good things: “The sturgeon is a -fish which is also to be found here, but it is not appreciated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[p. 303]</span> -as it ought to be. In Russia they recognise its -good qualities. It is often caught in the Elbe in the -Magdeburg district, but is only eaten by fishermen and -poor people.” He then explained its good points, and -thus came to speak of caviare, and treated of the several -varieties with the knowledge of a connoisseur.</p> - -<p>“The fresh caviare which we now get in Berlin is -very good,” he said, “since it can be brought by rail -from St. Petersburg in forty hours. I have had it -several times, and one of my principal complaints against -that fat Borck is that he intercepted forty pounds of -this caviare which I once sent to the King. I suspected -something of the kind, as the King made no mention of -it, and did not send me any present in return. Later -on Perponcher or some one told me that on dropping in -to Borck’s room he saw there a barrel of caviare with a -spoon standing in it. That made me wild with him -(<i lang="de">Das hat mir sehr verdrossen</i>).”</p> - -<p>The Chief remarked at dinner: “To-day, again, I -noticed when it snowed how many points of resemblance -there are between the Gauls and the Slavs. The same -broad streets, with the houses standing close together, -the same low roofs, as in Russia. The only thing wanting -here is the green onion-shaped steeple. But, on the -other hand, the versts and kilometres, the arsheens -and metres are the same. And then the tendency to -centralisation, the uniformity of views of the whole population -and the communistic trait in the popular -character.”</p> - -<p>He then spoke of the wonderful “topsy turvy” -world we live in nowadays. “When one thinks that -perhaps the Pope will shortly be residing in a small town -of Protestant Germany, that the Reichstag may meet in -Versailles, and the Corps Législatif in Cassel, that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[p. 304]</span> -Garibaldi has become a French general in spite of -Mentana, and that Papal Zouaves are fighting side by -side with him!” He followed up this train of ideas -for some little time.</p> - -<p>The Minister then remarked suddenly: “Metternich -has also written to me to-day. He wants me to allow -Hoyos to enter Paris, in order that he may bring away -the Austrians. I replied that since the 25th of October -they have had permission to come out, but that we -could allow no more people to enter, not even diplomats. -We also receive none in Versailles, but I would make an -exception in his favour. He will then perhaps again -raise the Austrians’ claims respecting the property of -the old Bund in the German fortresses.”</p> - -<p>On the subject of doctors, and the way in which -nature sometimes comes to its own assistance, the Chief -related that he was once with a shooting party for two -days at the Duke of ——. “I was thoroughly out of -sorts. Even the two days’ shooting and fresh air did -me no good. On the third day I visited the Cuirassiers -at Brandenburg, who had received a new cup. I was to -be the first one to drink out of it, thus dedicating it, -and then it was to go the round of the table. It held -nearly a bottle. I made my speech, however, drank and -set it down empty, to the great surprise of the officers, -who had but a poor opinion of mere quill-drivers. That -was the result of my Göttingen training. And strangely, -or perhaps naturally enough, it set me all right again. -On another occasion, when I was shooting at Letzlingen -in the time of Frederick William <abbr title="4">IV.</abbr> the guests were -asked to drink from an old puzzle goblet. It was a -stag’s horn, which contained about three-quarters of a -bottle of wine, and was so made that one could not -bring it close to the lips, yet one was not allowed to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[p. 305]</span> -spill a drop. I took it and drank it off at a draught, -although it was very cold champagne, and not a single -drop fell on my white waistcoat. Everybody was -immensely surprised; but I said, ‘Give me another.’ -The King, however, who evidently did not appreciate -my success, called out ‘No, no more.’ Such tricks -were formerly an indispensable part of the diplomat’s -trade. They drank the weaker vessels under the table, -wormed all they wanted to know out of them, made -them agree to things which were contrary to their -instructions, or for which, at least, they had no authority. -Then they were compelled to put their signatures at -once, and afterwards when they got sober they could not -imagine how they had done it.”</p> - -<p>Bismarck-Bohlen, who seemed to be particularly -communicative to-day, told the following anecdote -about the Chief. At Commercy a woman came to him -to complain that her husband, who had tried to strike a -hussar with a spade, had been arrested. “The Minister -listened to her very amiably, and when she had done he -replied in the kindliest manner possible, ‘Well, my good -woman, you can be quite sure that your husband’ -(drawing a line round his neck with his finger) ‘will be -presently hanged.’”</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, November 12th.</i>—While we were at lunch -the Chief was out. He shortly afterwards passed -through the dining-room into the saloon, accompanied by -a bearded officer in a Prussian uniform, the Grand Duke -of Baden.</p> - -<p>In about ten minutes the Chief returned to table. -He was very angry and indignant, and said: “This is -really too bad! No peace from these Grand Dukes even -at one’s meals. They will eventually force their way -into one’s bedroom. That must be put a stop to. It is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[p. 306]</span> -not so in Berlin. There the people who want something -from me announce their visits in writing, and I fix a -suitable time for them to call. Why should it not be -the same here?”</p> - -<p>After a while the Chief said to one of the attendants -who was waiting upon us, “Remember in future in such -cases to say that I am not at home. Whoever brings -any visitor to me unannounced will be put under arrest -and sent off to Berlin;” and after eating a few mouthfuls -more, he went on: “As if it were anything of importance! -But merely curiosity and a desire to kill time. -He shall see, however, I will shortly pay him a surprise -visit on some official matter, so that he cannot send me -away....”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned on Roon’s asthma, -which according to Lauer is now improving. His rage -at the appearance of the Grand Duke during the dinner -hour still visibly affected the Chief, who asked Lauer, -“What should one drink with marena when in a bad -temper?” and on Lauer recommending something the -name of which I could not catch, the Minister continued: -“It upsets my digestion when anything exasperates me -at meals; and here I have had good reason to be angry. -They think that one is only made for their use.” Then -addressing the servant again the Chief said: “Mind you -send away the red lackeys, and say that I am not at -home. Remember that! And you, Karl (to Bohlen), -must take care that this is done.”</p> - -<p>The name of Arnim Boitzenburg, the former Minister, -then came up. The Chancellor said he had been his chief -at Aix-la-Chapelle, and he went on to describe him as -“amiable, clever, but unstable and incapable of persistent -or energetic action. He was like an india-rubber ball that -bounces again and again, but each time with diminishing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[p. 307]</span> -force until at length it ceases to move. He first had an -opinion, then weakened it by arguing against it himself, -and went on criticising his own criticism, until at last -there was nothing left and nothing done.”</p> - -<p>Delbrück praised the son-in-law (Harry Arnim) as -being well-informed and intelligent, though unsympathetic -and unambitious. This was confirmed by the -Chief, who said: “Yes, he is a rocket in which they -forgot to put in the powder. He has, however, a good -head, but his reports are not the same on any two -successive days—often on the same day two thoroughly -contradictory views. No reliance can be placed upon -him.”</p> - -<p>Arnim’s lack of ambition led some one to speak of -orders and titles, and the Chief said his first decoration -was a medal for saving life, which he received for having -rescued a servant from drowning. “I was made an -‘Excellency’ at the palace in Königsberg in 1861. I -however, already had the title in Frankfurt, only -there I was not a Prussian but a Federal Excellency. -The German Princes had decided that each Minister to -the Diet should have that title. For the matter of that -I did not trouble myself much about it—nor afterwards -either—I was a distinguished man without it.”</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, November 13th.</i>—The Chancellor, in a -general’s uniform and helmet, and wearing several -orders, went to-day to dine with the King. As he was -leaving, Bohlen said to him: “But you ought to have -the ribbon of the Iron Cross in your button-hole.”</p> - -<p>“It is there already,” replied the Minister. “In -other circumstances I should not wear it. I am ashamed -before my own sons and many others who have earned -it but not got it, while all the loafers at headquarters -swagger about with it.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[p. 308]</span></p> - -<p>In the evening the Chancellor desired me to send a -<i lang="fr">démenti</i> of a false report published by the Augsburg -<cite lang="de">Allgemeine Zeitung</cite>, to the effect that Count Arnim -paid a visit to headquarters before his departure for -Rome. The Chief at the same time remarked: “I have -told you more than once that you must not write so -violently. Here you are again, speaking of ‘hallucination’ -(in correction of an article by Archibald Forbes in -the <cite>Daily News</cite>). Why not be civil? I, too, have to -be civil. Always this carping, malignant style! You -must learn to write differently if you want to work in -such a distinguished Foreign Office, or we must make -other arrangements. And such a bullying style! Just -like Brass, who might have had a brilliant position if he -were not so brutal.” “Hallucination” was the word -used by the Minister himself; but in future I shall be -careful to sift my phrases so as to eliminate all rough -words and only let soft ones find their way into the -press.</p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt told me at tea that the Chief had also -“carried on awfully” with him, adding that if he -remained in such a temper for long he (Hatzfeldt) would -think of leaving. The Count will, however, in all -probability, take plenty of time to reconsider this -matter.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, November 15th.</i>—The Chief is still unwell. -Theiss reports that the Court have their things ready -packed to-day, and this is confirmed at lunch. The -position of affairs between here and Orleans is not as -good as it might be. The Minister also on sitting down -to table mentions the possibility of our having to retire, -and evacuate Versailles for a time. There might be -an attack from Dreux combined with a sortie on a large -scale from Paris. He had repeatedly spoken of that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[p. 309]</span> -possibility to members of the general staff. Even a -layman could see that a successful attempt of that kind -in which not only the Court and general staff but also -the heavy siege guns would be in danger of falling into -the hands of the enemy, must be the sole chance of -relieving Paris, and that the French, therefore, may well -hazard the attempt.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[p. 310]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="12">XII</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">GROWING DESIRE FOR A DECISION IN VARIOUS -DIRECTIONS</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara"><i>Wednesday, November 16th.</i>—The Chief is still unwell. -One of the causes is supposed to be his mortification -at the course of the negotiations with the -South German States (which once more seem as if they -would come to a standstill) and at the conduct of the -military authorities, who have on various occasions -neglected to consult him, although the matters dealt -with were not merely military questions.</p> - -<p>Count Waldersee dines with us. The Chief complains -once more that the military authorities are proceeding -too slowly for him, and do not inform him of -all matters of importance. He had only succeeded, -“after repeated requests,” in getting them to send him -at least those particulars which they telegraph to the -German newspapers. It was different in 1866. He was -then present at all councils, and his view was frequently -accepted. For instance, it was due to him that a direct -attack upon Vienna was given up, and that the army -marched on to the Hungarian frontier. “And that is -only as it should be. It is necessary for my business. -I must be informed of the course of military operations, -in order that I may know the proper time at which to -conclude peace.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[p. 311]</span></p> - -<p><i>Thursday, November 17th.</i>—Alten and Prince Radziwill -are the Chief’s guests at dinner. A rumour is -mentioned to the effect that Garibaldi and 13,000 -of his volunteers have been made prisoners. The -Minister observed: “That is really disheartening—to -make prisoners of 13,000 franctireurs who are not -even Frenchmen! Why have they not been shot?”</p> - -<p>He then complained that the military authorities so -seldom consulted him. “This capitulation of Verdun, -for instance—I should certainly not have advised that. -To undertake to return their arms after peace had been -concluded, and still more to let French officials continue -the administration as they please. The first condition -might pass, as the conditions of peace might provide -that the weapons should not be returned. But that -<i lang="fr">librement</i>! It ties our hands in the interval, even -should they place all kinds of obstacles in our way and -act as if there were absolutely no war. They can -openly stir up a rising in favour of the Republic, and -under this agreement we can do nothing to prevent -them.” After dwelling upon this topic for some time, -the Minister concluded by saying: “At all events, such -a capitulation is unprecedented in history.”</p> - -<p>Some one referred to the article written by a diplomat -in the <cite lang="fr">Indépendance Belge</cite> prophesying the restoration -of Napoleon. “No doubt,” observed the Chancellor, -“Napoleon fancies something of the kind will happen. -Moreover, it is not entirely impossible. If he made -peace with us he might return with the troops he has -now in Germany. Something in the style of Klapka’s -Hungarian Legion on a grand scale, to work in co-operation -with us. And then his Government is still -the legal one. Order being once restored, he would at -the outside require an army of 200,000 men for its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[p. 312]</span> -maintenance. With the exception of Paris, it would -not be necessary to garrison the large towns with troops. -Perhaps Lyons and Marseilles. The National Guards -would be sufficient for the protection of the others. If -the republicans were to rise in rebellion they could be -bombarded and shelled out.”</p> - -<p>A telegram reporting Granville’s statement with -regard to the Russian declaration concerning the Peace -of Paris was sent by the King to the Chief, who read -it over to us. It was to the effect that Russia, in taking -upon herself to denounce a portion of the Treaty of -1856, assumed the right to set aside the whole on her -own initiative, a right which was only possessed by -the signatory Powers collectively. England could not -tolerate such an arbitrary course, which threatened the -validity of all treaties. Future complications were to -be apprehended. The Minister smiled, and said: -“Future complications! Parliamentary speech-makers! -They are not going to venture. The whole tone is also -in the future. That is the way in which one speaks -when he does not mean to do anything. No, there is -nothing to be feared from them now, as there was -nothing to be hoped from them four months ago. If -at the beginning of the war the English had said to -Napoleon, ‘There must be no war,’ there would have -been none.”</p> - -<p>After a while the Minister continued: “Gortschakoff -is not carrying on in this matter a real Russian policy -(that is, one in the true interests of Russia), but rather -a policy of violent aggression. People still believe that -Russian diplomats are particularly crafty and clever, -full of artifices and stratagems, but that is not the case. -If the people at St. Petersburg were clever they would -not make any declaration of the kind, but would quietly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[p. 313]</span> -build men-of-war in the Black Sea and wait until they -were questioned on the subject. Then they might -reply that they knew nothing about it, but would -make inquiries, and so let the matter drag on. That -might continue for a long time, and finally people -would get accustomed to it.”</p> - -<p>Another telegram announced the election of the -Duke of Aosta as King of Spain. The Chief said: “I -pity him—and them. He is, moreover, elected by a -small majority—not by the two-thirds originally intended. -There were 190 votes for him and 115 -against.” Alten was pleased that the monarchical -sentiments of the Spaniards had ultimately prevailed. -“Ah, those Spaniards!” exclaimed the Chief. “They -have no sense of what is honourable or becoming! -They showed that on the outbreak of this war. If -only one of those Castilians who pretend to have a -monopoly of the sense of honour had but expressed his -indignation at the cause of the present war, which was -after all Napoleon’s intervention in their previous election -of a king, interfering with their free choice and -treating them as vassals!... As a matter of fact, -these Spaniards are all mere Angelo de Mirandas,—he -was formerly a card sharper, and then confidant of -Prim’s and probably also of the King’s.” After the -Chief had made some further remarks, some one said -that it was now all over with the candidature of the -Prince of Hohenzollern. “Yes,” replied the Chief, -“but only because he wishes it to be so. A couple of -weeks ago I told him that it was still time. But he no -longer wanted to go on.”</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, November 19th.</i>—We were joined at -dinner by General von Werder, the Prussian Military -Plenipotentiary at St. Petersburg. The Chief, who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[p. 314]</span> -looked very pleased, said, shortly after entering the -dining-room: “Well, we shall probably be able to come -to an understanding with Bavaria.” “Yes,” exclaimed -Bohlen, “something of that kind has already been telegraphed -to one of the Berlin papers.” “I am sorry for -that,” replied the Minister; “it is premature. But of -course, wherever there is a mob of princes who have -nothing to do and who feel bored, nothing can be kept -secret!”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned on Vienna and Count -Beust. The Chief said Beust had apologised for the -recent discourteous note. It was written by Biegeleben, -and not by himself. The reference to Biegeleben led to -the discussion of the Gagern family and to the once -celebrated Heinrich von Gagern (President of the -Reichstag in the Paulskirche at Frankfurt). “I remember,” -the Chief said, “in 1850 or 1851, Manteuffel was -instructed to bring about an understanding between -the Gagern and the Conservative sections of the Prussian -party—at least, as far as the King was disposed -to go in the cause of German unity. Manteuffel -selected Gagern and myself for this purpose, and so -we were both invited one day to a <i lang="fr">souper à trois</i> at -his place. At first there was little or no mention of -politics, but Manteuffel afterwards made some excuse -for leaving us alone. When he left I immediately -began to talk politics, explaining my standpoint to -Gagern in a plain, business-like way. You should have -heard Gagern! He assumed his Jove-like aspect, lifted -his eyebrows, ran his fingers through his hair, rolled his -eyes and cast them up to heaven so perpendicularly that -you could hear the joints in his neck crack, and poured -out his grand phrases to me as if I were a public meeting. -Of course, that did not help him much with me.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[p. 315]</span> -I replied coolly, and we remained divided as before. -When Jupiter had retired, Manteuffel asked, ‘Well, -what arrangement have you come to together?’ ‘Oh,’ -I replied, ‘no arrangement at all. The man is a fool. -He takes me for a public meeting! A mere watering-can -of fine phrases! Nothing can be done with him.’”</p> - -<p>The subject of the bombardment having been introduced, -the Chief said: “I told the King again yesterday -that it was time to begin, and he had no objection -to make. He replied that he had given orders to begin, -but that the generals said they could not. I know -exactly how it is. It is Stosch, Treskow, and Podbielski.”</p> - -<p>Some one asked: “And Hindersin?”</p> - -<p>“He is also against it,” said the Chief. “Podbielski” -(so I understood him to say) “could be brought round. -But the other two are influenced by considerations -affecting their own future.”</p> - -<p>It appeared from some further remarks of the -Minister that, in his opinion, first Queen Victoria, and -then, at her instance the Crown Princess, and, finally, -the Crown Prince, persuaded by his consort, will not -have Paris bombarded; while the generals “cannot” -bombard the city out of consideration for the views of -the Crown Prince, who will, of course, be the future -King, and will have the appointment of Ministers of -War, commandants of army corps, and field marshals.</p> - -<p>The late General von Möllendorff having been mentioned, -the Minister related the following anecdote: “I -remember after the March rising, when the King and -the troops were at Potsdam, I went there too. A council -was being held as to what was to be done. Möllendorff -was present, and sat not far from me. He seemed to be -in pain, and could scarcely sit down for the beating he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[p. 316]</span> -had received. All kinds of suggestions were made, but -no one knew exactly what was to be done. I sat near -the piano and said nothing, but played a few bars” (he -hummed the opening of the infantry march for the -charge). “Old Möllendorff suddenly stood up, his face -beaming with pleasure, and, hobbling over, threw his -arms round my neck, and said: ‘That’s right. I know -what you mean. March on Berlin!’ There was nothing -to be done with the King, however, and the others had -not the pluck.”</p> - -<p>After a while the Chancellor asked Werder: “How -much does each visit to the Tsar cost you?” I do not -know what Werder’s answer was, but the Chief went on: -“It was always a rather costly business for me—particularly -in Zarskoje. There I had always to pay from -15 to 20 and sometimes 25 roubles, according as I drove -out to see the Emperor with or without an invitation. It -was always more expensive in the former case. I had to -fee the coachman and footman who brought me, the -majordomo who received me—he wore a sword when I -came on invitation, and then the running footman who -conducted me through the whole length of the castle—it -must be about a thousand yards—to the Emperor’s -apartments. Well, he really earned his five roubles. -And one never got the same coachman twice. I could -never recover these expenses. We Prussians were altogether -badly paid. Twenty-five thousand thalers salary -and 8,000 thalers for rent. For that sum I certainly -had a house as large and fine as any palace in -Berlin. But all the furniture was old, shabby, and faded, -and when I had paid for repairs and other odds and ends -it cost me 9,000 a year. I found, however, that I -was not obliged to spend more than my salary, and so -I helped myself out of the difficulty by not entertaining.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[p. 317]</span> -The French Minister had 300,000 francs, and was in -addition allowed to charge his Government with the expense -of any receptions which he chose to look upon as -official.”</p> - -<p>“But you had at least free firing,” said Werder, -“and at St. Petersburg that amounts to something considerable -in the course of the year.”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, but I had not,” replied the Chief, “I was -obliged to pay for that too. Food would not have been -so dear if the officials had not made it so. I remember -once seeing some very good timber in a Finnish boat. I -asked the peasants what the price was and they mentioned -a very moderate figure. But when I wanted to -buy it they asked if it was for the Treasury (he used the -Russian term). I was imprudent enough to reply that -it was not for the Imperial Treasury (he again used the -Russian words) but for the Royal Prussian Legation. -When I came back to have the wood removed they had -disappeared. Had I given them the address of a tradesman, -with whom I could afterwards have made an -arrangement, I might have got the wood at a third of -the price I usually paid. They evidently regarded the -Prussian Minister as one of the Tsar’s officials and -thought to themselves: ‘No, when it comes to payment -he will say that we have stolen the wood, and have us -locked up until we give it to him for nothing.’” The -Chief then gave some instances of the way in which the -Tschinowniks harassed and exploited the peasantry, and -afterwards returned to the subject of the poor pay -of Prussian Ministers as compared with those of other -countries. “It is just the same in Berlin,” he said. -“The Prussian Minister has 10,000 thalers, but the -English Ambassador has 63,000, and the Russian -44,000, while the latter’s Government bears the cost of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[p. 318]</span> -all entertainments, and if the Tsar stays with him he -usually receives a full year’s salary as compensation. -Of course, in such circumstances, we cannot keep pace -with them.”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, November 22nd.</i>—Prince Pless, Major von -Alten, and a Count Stolberg dine with us. Mention is -made of a great discovery of first-rate wine in a cellar -near Bougival, which has been confiscated in accordance -with the laws of war. Bohlen complains that none of it -has reached us. Altogether the Foreign Office is as -badly provided as possible. Care is always taken to set -apart the most uncomfortable lodgings for the Chief, and -they have been invariably lucky in finding such. “Yes,” -said the Chancellor, laughing, “it is pure churlishness on -their part to treat me like that. And so ungrateful, as -I have always looked after their interests in the Diet. -But they shall see me thoroughly transformed. I -started for the war devoted to the military, but I shall -go home a convinced Parliamentarian. No more -military budgets.”</p> - -<p>Prince Pless praises the Würtemberg troops. They -make an excellent impression and come next to our own -in the matter of military bearing. The Chancellor -agrees but thinks the Bavarians also deserve commendation. -He appears to be particularly pleased at the -summary way in which they shoot down the “<span lang="fr">franc-voleurs</span>.” -“Our North German soldiers follow orders -too literally. When one of those footpads fires at a -Holstein dragoon he gets off his horse, runs after the -fellow with his heavy sword and catches him. He then -brings him to his lieutenant, who either lets him go or -hands him over to his superior officer—which comes to -the same thing, as he is then set free. The Bavarian acts -differently. He knows that war is war, and keeps up<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[p. 319]</span> -the good old customs. He does not wait until he is -shot at from behind, but shoots first himself.”</p> - -<p>In the evening I prepared Bernstorff’s despatch -respecting the capture of a German ship in English -waters by the French frigate <i lang="fr">Desaix</i> for our press; -also the letter to Lundy on the export of arms from -England to France; and finally arranged that our papers -should no longer defend Bazaine against the charge of -treason, “as it does him harm.”</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, November 23rd.</i>—This morning I asked -Bucher how the Bavarian Treaties were getting on and -whether they would not be finally settled this evening. -“Yes,” was the reply, “if nothing happens in the meantime—and -it need not be anything very important. -Could you imagine what it was that recently nearly -wrecked the negotiations? The question of collars or -epaulettes! The King of Bavaria wanted to retain the -Bavarian collar, while his Majesty wished to have it -replaced by ours. The Chief, however, finally brought -him round by saying: ‘But, your Majesty, if the -Treaty is not concluded now, and in ten years’ time -perhaps the Bavarians are arrayed against us in battle, -what will history say when it becomes known that the -negotiations miscarried owing to these collars?’ Moreover, -the King is not the worst—but rather the Minister -of War.” As I was then called away I could not for -the moment unriddle this mystery. I afterwards learned -that the question was whether the Bavarian officers -should in future wear the badge of their rank on their -collars as hitherto, or on their shoulder straps like the -North German troops. Bucher having alluded to the -strong Republican sympathies which Alten had yesterday -displayed, Pless also observed: “Really if we had -known what sort of people these Princes were at the time<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[p. 320]</span> -we were discussing the Criminal Code in the Diet -we should not have helped to make the provisions -respecting <i lang="fr">lèse-majesté</i> so severe.” The Chief remarked, -with a laugh: “Every one of us has already deserved -ten years’ penal servitude if all our jibbing at princes -during the campaign were proved against us.”</p> - -<p>We were joined at dinner by Count Frankenberg -and Prince Putbus. Both wore the Iron Cross. The -guests mentioned that people were very anxious in -Berlin for the bombardment to begin and grumbled a -great deal at its postponement. The rumour as to the -influence of certain great ladies being one of the causes -of the delay appears to be very widespread. “I have -often told the King so,” said the Chief, “but it cannot be -done; they will not have it.” “The Queen?” suggested -some one. “Several queens,” corrected the Chancellor, -“and princesses. I believe also that Masonic influences -and scruples have helped.” He then again declared -that he regarded the investment of Paris as a blunder. -“I have never been in favour of it. If they had left -it alone we should have made more progress, or at -least we should have had a better position before -Europe. We have certainly not added to our prestige -by spending eight weeks outside Paris. We ought to -have left Paris alone and sought the French in the open -country. But otherwise the bombardment ought to -have begun at once. If a thing has to be done, do it!”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned upon the treatment of -the French rural population, and Putbus related that a -Bavarian officer had ordered a whole village to be -burned to the ground and the wine in the cellars to be -poured out into the gutter because the inhabitants of -the place had acted treacherously. Some one else -observed that the soldiers at some other place had given<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[p. 321]</span> -a fearful dressing to a curé who had been caught in an -act of treachery. The Minister again praised the -energy of the Bavarians, but said with regard to the -second case: “One ought either to treat people as considerately -as possible or to put it out of their power to -do mischief—one or the other.” After reflecting for a -moment, he added: “Be civil to the very last step of -the gallows, but hang all the same. One should only be -rude to a friend when one feels sure that he will not take -it amiss. How rude one is to his wife, for instance! -That reminds me, by the way, Herr von Keudell, will -you please telegraph to Reinfeld, ‘If a letter comes -from Count Bismarck hold it back, and forward it to -the Poste Restante or to Berlin’? I have written -various things to my wife which are not overflowing -with loyal reverence. My father-in-law is an old gentleman -of eighty-one, and as the Countess has now left -Reinfeld, where she was on a visit to him, he would open -and read the letter and show it to the pastor, who -would tell his gossips about it, and presently it would -get into the newspapers.”</p> - -<p>Bleibtreu’s sketch representing General Reille as he -came up the hill at Sedan to deliver Napoleon’s letter to -the King was then mentioned, and some one remarked -that from the way in which the general was taking off his -cap, he looked as if he were going to shout Hurrah! -The Chief said: “His demeanour was thoroughly -dignified and correct. I spoke to him alone while the -King was writing his reply. He urged that hard -conditions should not be imposed upon a great army -which had fought so bravely. I shrugged my shoulders. -He then said rather than submit they would blow up -the fortress. I said, ‘Well, do so—<i lang="fr">faites sauter</i>!’ I -asked him then if the Emperor could still depend upon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[p. 322]</span> -the army and the officers. He said yes. And whether -his instructions and orders still held good in Metz? -Reille answered this question also in the affirmative, -and, as we saw, he was right at the time.... If -Napoleon had only made peace then I believe he would -still be a respected ruler. But he is a silly fool! I -said so sixteen years ago when no one would believe me. -Stupid and sentimental. The King also thought for the -moment that it would be peace, and wanted me to say -what conditions we should propose. But I said to -him ‘Your Majesty, we can hardly have got as far -as that yet.’ Their Highnesses and Serene Highnesses -then pressed so close to us that I had twice to beg the -King to move further off. I should have preferred to -tell them plainly, ‘Gentlemen, leave us alone; you have -nothing to do here.’ The one thing which prevented -me from being rude to them was that the brother of our -Most Gracious was the ringleader and chief offender of -the whole prying mob.”</p> - -<p>About 10 o’clock I went down to tea, and found -Bismarck-Bohlen and Hatzfeldt still there. The Chief -was in the <i lang="fr">salon</i> with the three Bavarian Plenipotentiaries. -In about a quarter of an hour he opened -one side of the door, bent his head forward with his -friendliest look, and came in with a glass in his hand -and took a seat at the table.</p> - -<p>“Well,” he said, his voice and looks betraying his -emotion, “the Bavarian Treaty is made and signed. -German unity is secure, and the German Emperor too.” -We were all silent for a moment. I then begged to be -allowed to bring away the pen with which he had signed -it. “In God’s name, bring all three,” he said; “but -the gold one is not amongst them.” I went and took -the three pens that lay near the document. Two of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[p. 323]</span> -them were still wet. Two empty champagne bottles -stood close by. “Bring us another bottle,” said the -Chief to the servant. “It is an event.” Then, after -reflecting for a while, he observed: “The newspapers -will not be satisfied, and he who writes history in the -usual way may criticise our agreement. He may -possibly say, ‘The stupid fellow should have asked for -more; he would have got it, as they would have been -compelled to yield.’ And he may be right so far as the -‘compelled’ is concerned. But what I attached more -importance to was that they should be thoroughly -pleased with the thing. What are treaties when people -are compelled to enter into them! And I know that -they went away pleased.... I did not want to -squeeze them or to make capital out of the situation. -The Treaty has its deficiencies, but it is for that reason -all the more durable. The future can supply those -deficiencies.... The King also was not satisfied. -He was of opinion that such a Treaty was not worth -much. My opinion is quite different. I consider it one -of the most important results which we have attained -during recent years. I finally succeeded in carrying it -through by exciting apprehensions of English intervention -unless the matter were speedily settled.... -As to the question of the Emperor, I made that proposal -palatable to them in the course of the negotiations by -representing that it must be easier and more satisfactory -for their sovereign to concede certain rights to the German -Emperor than to the neighbouring King of Prussia.”</p> - -<p>On the Minister then speaking somewhat slightingly -of the King of Bavaria, he was like a boy, did not know -his own mind, lived in “dreams,” and so on—Abeken -(who had entered in the meantime, and was naturally -aggrieved at these remarks) said: “But surely the young<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[p. 324]</span> -King is a very nice man!” “So are all of us here,” -said the Chief, as he looked round at the whole company -one after another. Loud laughter from the Centre and -the Left. Over a second bottle of champagne which he -drank with us, the Chief came (I forget how the subject -was introduced) to speak of his own death. He asserted -that he should die in his 71st year, a conclusion which -he arrived at from some combination of figures which I -could not understand. I said: “Excellency must not -do that. It would be too early. One must drive away -the Angel of Death!”</p> - -<p>“No,” he replied. “In 1886—still fifteen years. I -know it. It is a mystic number.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, November 24th.</i>—Busily engaged all the -morning with various articles on the Treaty with -Bavaria, written in the sense of the Chief’s utterances of -last night. Wollmann told me that a Colonel Krohn had -arrested a lawyer at a place in the Ardennes for having -treacherously entered into communication with a band -of franctireurs, and the court-martial having sentenced -the man to death, he had presented a petition for pardon. -The Chief had, however, written to the Minister of War -to-day that he would advise the King to let justice take -its course.</p> - -<p>Colonel Tilly, of the General Staff, and Major Hill -are the Chief’s guests at dinner to-day. The Minister -again complained that the military authorities do not -communicate sufficient information to him and too -seldom consult him. “It was just the same with the -appointment of Vogel von Falkenstein, who has now -locked up Jacoby. If I have to speak on that subject -in the Reichstag, I shall wash my hands of the matter. -They could not possibly have done more to spoil the -broth for me.” “I came to the war,” he repeated,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[p. 325]</span> -“disposed to do everything for the military authorities, -but in future I shall go over to the advocates of -Parliamentary government, and if they worry me much -more, I shall have a chair placed for myself on the -extreme Left.”</p> - -<p>The Treaty with Bavaria was then mentioned, and -it was said that the difficulties which had been encountered -arose partly on the National side, on which -the Minister observed, “It is really remarkable how -many clever people there are who, nevertheless, understand -nothing about politics. For instance, the man -who always sat on my right here (Delbrück). A very -clever man, but no politician.”</p> - -<p>Suddenly changing the subject, he said: “The -English are beside themselves, and their newspapers -demand war on account of a note which is nothing -more than a statement of opinion on a point of law—for -that is all that Gortschakoff’s Note amounts to.”</p> - -<p>Later on the Minister returned once more to the -postponement of the bombardment, which he regarded -as dangerous from a political standpoint. “Here we -have now collected this enormous mass of siege artillery. -The whole world is waiting for us to begin, and yet the -guns remain idle up to the present. That has certainly -damaged us with the neutral Powers. The effect of our -success at Sedan is very seriously diminished thereby, -and when one thinks on what grounds.” One of the -causes of the delay brought him to speak of the Crown -Princess, of whom he said: “She is in general a very -clever person, and really agreeable in her way, but she -should not interfere in politics.” He then again related -the anecdote about the glass of water which he told me -near Crehanges, only this time it was in French that the -Princess spoke.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[p. 326]</span></p> - -<p><i>Friday, November 25th.</i>—In the morning I cut -out for the King an article from the <cite lang="de">Neue Freie Presse</cite>, -in which Granville’s note is described as timid and -colourless; and arrange for the republication by all -our papers in France of the telegram of July last, in -which Napoleon stated that the whole French people -approved of the declaration of war which he had just -despatched.</p> - -<p>Whilst I was walking with Wollmann in the afternoon, -he told me an anecdote of the Chief which is -very neat—although I must add that my informant is -not quite trustworthy. Wollmann said: “On the night -of the 14th to the 15th of June, 1866, Manteuffel telegraphed -that he had crossed the Elbe, and asked how -he was to treat the Hanoverians. Thereupon the -Minister wrote the answer: ‘Treat them as countrymen, -if necessary to death.’ He asked me: ‘Do -you understand that?’ ‘Yes, Excellency,’ I replied. -‘All right then,’ he added, ‘but, you see, it is for a -general.’”</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, November 26th.</i>—Wrote several articles, -including one on Trochu’s extraordinary production in -the <cite lang="fr">Figaro</cite> of the 22nd instant, praising those whom he -considered specially deserving of commendation in the -defence of the city. The Chief read over to me some -of the passages he had marked, saying: “These heroic -deeds of the defenders of Paris are mostly of such an -ordinary kind that Prussian generals would not think -them worth mentioning; while others are mere swagger -and obvious impossibilities. Trochu’s braves have made -more prisoners when they are all reckoned up than the -whole French army during the entire investment of -Paris. Then here is this Captain Montbrisson, who is -commended for having marched at the head of his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[p. 327]</span> -column to the attack, and had himself lifted over a wall -in order to reconnoitre,—that was merely his duty. -Then here this theatrical vanity, where Private Gletty -made prisoners of three Prussians, <i lang="fr">par la fermeté de son -attitude</i>. The firmness of his attitude! And our -Pomeranians ate humble pie before him! That may -do for a Boulevard theatre, or a circus,—but in -reality! Then this Hoff, who on several occasions -slaughtered in single combat no less than twenty-seven -Prussians! He must be a Jew, this triple nine-pounder! -Probably a cousin of Malz-Hoff of the Old or New -Wilhelmstrasse—at any rate a Miles Gloriosus. And -finally this Terreaux, who captured a <i lang="fr">fanion</i>, together -with the <i lang="fr">porte-fanion</i>. That is a company flag for -marking the line—which we do not use at all. And -the Commander-in-Chief of an army officially reports -such stuff! Really this list of commendations is just -like the battle pictures in the gallery of <i lang="fr">toutes les gloires -de la France</i>, where each drummer at Sebastopol and -Magenta is preserved for posterity, simply because he -beat his drum.”</p> - -<p>At dinner the Chief complained: “I was yesterday -visited by a whole series of misfortunes, one on top of -the other. First of all some one wanted to see me on -important business (Odo Russell). I send word requesting -him to wait for a few moments, as I am -engaged on a pressing matter. On my asking for him a -quarter of an hour later, I find he has gone, and possibly -the peace of Europe is at stake.</p> - -<p>“Then I go to see the King as early as 12 o’clock, -and the consequence is that I fall into the hands of the -Grand Duke of Weimar, who obliges me, as his Chancellor, -to listen to a letter which he has written to an -august personage (the Emperor of Russia), and thus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[p. 328]</span> -wastes a good deal of my time.... I am to tell him -what I think of the letter, but I decline to do so. Have -I then anything to object to it? he asked in a piqued -tone. I cannot say that either, although I would -observe that I should have written the letter differently. -What do I wish altered? I stick to my point, and say -I cannot express an opinion, because if the letter went -with my corrections I should be held responsible for its -contents. ‘Well, then, I must speak to the King.’ -‘Do so,’ I reply coolly, ‘and take over the office of -Chancellor of the Confederation, if you like. But if the -letter goes off, I for my part shall immediately telegraph -to the place of destination that I have had nothing to -do with it.’ I thus lost an hour, so that telegrams of great -importance had to wait, and in the meantime, decisions -may have been arrived at and resolutions taken which -would have very serious consequences for all Europe, and -might change the political situation. That all came of -its being a Friday. Friday negotiations, Friday -measures!”</p> - -<p>Bucher told me the Crown Prince recently said to the -Chancellor that too little had been secured by the -Bavarian Treaty. After such great successes we ought -to have asked for more. “Yes; but how were we to get -it?” asked the Chief. “Why, we ought to force them,” -was the Crown Prince’s reply. “Then,” said the Chancellor, -“I can only recommend your Royal Highness to -begin by disarming the Bavarian Army Corps here,” a -remark which, of course, was intended ironically.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, November 27th.</i>—We were joined at dinner -by Count Lehndorff and Count Holnstein. The latter -is Master of the Horse to King Lewis, and one of his -confidential advisers.</p> - -<p>The Chief spoke at first of the Russian question. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[p. 329]</span> -said: “Vienna, Florence, and Constantinople have not -yet expressed their views; but St. Petersburg and -London have done so, and those are the most important -factors. There, however, the matter is satisfactory.”</p> - -<p>Subsequently affairs at Munich were discussed. -Holnstein observing, amongst other things, that the -French Legation had greatly deceived themselves before -the outbreak of the war as to the attitude of Bavaria. -They judged by two or three ardently Catholic and anti-Prussian -<i lang="fr">salons</i>, and even thought that Prince Luitpold -would become King. The Chief replied: “I never -doubted that Bavaria would join us, but I had not hoped -that she would decide so speedily to do so.”</p> - -<p>Holnstein told us that a shoemaker in Munich had -made a good deal of money by letting his windows, from -which a good view could be had of the captured Turcos -as they marched by, and presented seventy-nine florins to -the fund for the wounded soldiers. People had come -even from Vienna to see that procession. This led the -conversation to the shooting of these treacherous -Africans, on which the Chief said: “There should have -been no question of making prisoners of these blacks.” -Holnstein: “I believe they do not do so any longer.” -The Chief: “If I had my way every soldier who made -a black man prisoner should be placed under arrest. -They are beasts of prey, and ought to be shot down. -The fox has the excuse that Nature has made him so, -but these fellows—they are abominably unnatural. -They have tortured our soldiers to death in the most -shameful way.”</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[p. 330]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="13">XIII</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">REMOVAL OF THE ANXIETY RESPECTING THE BAVARIAN -TREATY IN THE REICHSTAG—THE BOMBARDMENT -FURTHER POSTPONED.</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara"><i>Monday, November 28th.</i>—Prince Pless and Count -Maltzahn dined with us. At first the Minister spoke -about Hume, the American spiritualist, a doubtful -character, who had been at Versailles, and who was to -be arrested if he showed himself here again. The -Chief then said: “The fellow managed to sneak into -the Crown Prince’s. But that is explained by the fact -that whoever can speak even broken English is welcome -there. The next thing will be for them to appoint -Colonel Walker my successor as Chancellor of the -Confederation.”<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> Bohlen exclaimed, “I suppose you -know that Garibaldi has been thrashed.” Some one -observed that if he were taken prisoner he ought to be -shot for having meddled in the war without authority. -“They ought to be first put into a cage like beasts -in a menagerie,” said Bohlen. “No,” said the Minister; -“I have another idea. They should be taken to Berlin, -and marched through the town with these words on a -placard suspended round their necks, ‘Italians, House<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[p. 331]</span> -of Correction, Ingratitude,’ and be then marched -through the town.” “And afterwards to Spandau,” -suggested Bohlen. The Chief added, “Or one might -inscribe merely the words, ‘Italians, Venice, Spandau.’”</p> - -<p>The Bavarian question and the situation at Munich -was then discussed. The Chief said: “The King is -undecided. It is obvious that he would rather not. -He accordingly pretends to be ill, has toothache, keeps -to his bed, where the Ministers cannot reach him. Or -he retires to a distant hunting-box in the mountains to -which there is no telegraph line, nor even a proper -road.”</p> - -<p>Some one having remarked that in the present circumstances -he is, after all, the best Bavarian ruler for our -purposes, the Chief said: “Yes; if he were to die he would -be succeeded by little Otto, whom we have had here. A -poor creature, with very little intelligence. He would -be entirely in the hands of the Austrians and Ultramontanes. -He has ruined himself; that is, if he was -ever worth anything.”</p> - -<p>General Reille’s name again brought up the question -of Napoleon’s surrender. “The King thought,” said -the Chancellor, “on reading Napoleon’s letter, that it -meant more for us than it did. ‘He must at least -surrender Metz to us,’ said the King to me. I replied, -‘I do not know, your Majesty; we are not aware what -power he still has over the troops.’ The Emperor -should not have needlessly surrendered himself as a -prisoner, but have made peace with us. His generals -would have followed him.” The Minister then again -related the incident of the letter Weimar wished to -write to the Emperor Alexander; and it appeared that -the day before yesterday the Chief had, in a moment of -irritation, represented the expressions which he had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[p. 332]</span> -used in speaking to the Grand Duke as stronger than -they actually were. According to the present account, -Weimar said, in conclusion, that his only object was a -patriotic one. He (the Minister) replied he quite believed -that, but it would not make the letter any more -useful. The letter has probably not been sent off.</p> - -<p>The question of the bombardment then came up, -and, in connection therewith, the intrigues which are -now being carried on by Bishop Dupanloup, and the -part he played in the opposition at the Vatican Council. -“Women and freemasons,” said the Chief, “are chiefly -responsible if our operations against Paris are not conducted -as energetically as they should be. Dupanloup -has influenced Augusta.... He also wrote me a -pile of letters, and took me in to such an extent that I -sent them to Twickenham.” (The Chancellor must -have meant Chislehurst). “He must be packed off -when our people get to Orleans, so that Von der Tann -may not be swindled by him.”... “That reminds -me,” continued the Chief, “that the Pope has written a -very nice letter to the French Bishops, or to several of -them, saying that they should not enter into any understanding -with the Garibaldians.”</p> - -<p>Somebody having expressed anxiety about some -matter which I was unable to catch, the Chief observed: -“A more important question for me—indeed, the most -important—is what will be done at Villa Coublay; that -is the main point. The Crown Prince said recently, -when I mentioned the matter to him, ‘I am ready to -give up the command for that purpose.’ I felt like -replying, ‘And I am prepared to assume it.’ Give me -the post of Commander-in-Chief for twenty-four hours, -and I will take it upon myself. I would then give one -command only: ‘Commence the bombardment.’”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[p. 333]</span></p> - -<p>Villa Coublay is a place not far from Versailles, -where the siege park has been collected and still -remains, instead of being placed in position. Bucher -tells me that the Chancellor has appealed directly to -the King to hasten the bombardment. The Chief continued: -“The assertion of the generals that they have -not enough ammunition is untrue. They do not want -to begin because the Heir Apparent does not wish it. -He does not wish it because his wife and his mother-in-law -are against it.</p> - -<p>“They have brought together three hundred cannon -and fifty or sixty mortars, and five hundred rounds of -ammunition for each gun. That is certainly enough. -I have been speaking to artillerymen, who said that they -had not used half as much ammunition at Strassburg as -they have collected here; and Strassburg was a Gibraltar -compared to Paris. It would be easy to fire the barracks -on Mont Valérien, and if the forts of Issy and -Vanvres were properly shelled so that the garrisons -should be compelled to bolt, the enceinte (of course we -know it) would be of little importance. The ditch is -not broader than the length of this room. I am convinced -that if we poured shells into the city itself for -five or six days, and they found out that our guns reached -farther than theirs—that is to say, 9,000 yards—Paris -would give in. True enough the wealthier quarters are -on this side of the city, and it is a matter of indifference -to the people at Belleville whether we blow them to -pieces or not; indeed, they are pleased when we -destroy the houses of the richer classes. As a matter -of fact, we ought to have attacked Paris from another -direction; or still better, left it altogether alone, and -continued our forward march. Now, however, that we -have begun, we must set about the affair in earnest.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[p. 334]</span> -Starving them out may last a long time, perhaps till -the spring. At any rate, they have flour enough up to -January.... If we had begun the bombardment at -the right time, there would have been no question of -the Loire army. After the engagement at Orleans, -where Von der Tann was obliged to retire, the military -authorities (not I) regarded our position in Versailles -as critical. Had we begun the bombardment four weeks -ago, we should now in all probability be in Paris, and -that is the main point. As it is, however, the Parisians -imagine that we are forbidden to fire by London, St. -Petersburg, and Vienna; while, on the other hand, the -neutral Powers believe that we are not able to do so. -The true reason, however, will be known at a future -time. One of its consequences will be to lead to a -restriction of personal rule.”</p> - -<p>In the evening I telegraphed to London that the -Reichstag had voted another hundred million thalers for -the continuation of the war with France, eight social -democrats alone opposing the grant. Also that Manteuffel -has occupied Amiens. Several paragraphs were -afterwards written for the <cite lang="de">Norddeutsche</cite>, including one -(on the directions of the Chief) in which the moderate -demands of the Chancellor in the negotiations with -Bavaria were defended as being not only right and fair, -but also wise and prudent. I said that the object was -not so much to secure this or that desirable concession -from the authorities at Munich as to make the South -German States feel satisfied in forming part of the new -organisation of united Germany. Any pressure or -coercion for the purpose of obtaining further concessions -would, in view of the circumstance that they had -fulfilled their patriotic duty, be an act of ingratitude; -while, in addition, it would have been, above all things,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[p. 335]</span> -impolitic to show ourselves more exacting in our -demands upon our allies. The discontent which would -have resulted from such an exercise of force would have -far outweighed half a dozen more favourable clauses in -the Treaty. That discontent would soon have shown -the neutral Powers, such as Austria, where to insert -the thin edge of the wedge in order to loosen and -ultimately destroy the unity which had been achieved.</p> - -<p>At dinner I suggested to Bucher that it might be -well to ask the Chief’s leave to hint in the press at the -real cause of the postponement of the bombardment. -He agreed with me that it would, and added: “I -myself have already vehemently attacked Augusta in -the newspapers.” On the Chancellor sending for me -in the evening, I said: “May I venture to ask your -Excellency a question? Would you have any objection -if I made a communication, in an indirect way, to non-official -organs respecting the causes of the postponement -of the bombardment, in the sense in which they have -repeatedly been discussed at table?” He reflected -for a moment, and then said, “Do as you like.” I -accordingly wrote two paragraphs—one for the <cite lang="de">Vossische -Zeitung</cite>, and one for the <cite lang="de">Weser Zeitung</cite>, which I had -copied out by another hand in Berlin, and forwarded to -their destination.</p> - -<p>One of these paragraphs ran as follows:—</p> - -<p>“Versailles, November 29th. It has been asserted -here for some considerable time past that the real cause -of the postponement of the bombardment is not so -much a scarcity of ammunition for the siege guns that -were brought here weeks ago, nor the strength of the -forts and ramparts of Paris; in short, that the delay is -not due to military considerations, but rather to the -influence of very highly placed ladies, and—can it be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[p. 336]</span> -credited?—of freemasons. I can assure you, on very -good authority, that these rumours are not unfounded. -I have no reason to apprehend a denial when I add -that the interference of one of these ladies has been -prompted by a well-known French prelate, who took a -prominent part in the opposition at the Vatican Council. -For the moment we would only ask a few questions: -Is it true humanity to let masses of gallant soldiers fall -a prey to the hardships of the investment by postponing -an artillery attack merely in order to save a hostile city -from damage? Is it good policy to let the impression -produced by Sedan upon the neutral Powers be frittered -away by such a postponement? Is that true freemasonry -which troubles itself with political questions? -It was thought hitherto that politics were not permitted -to enter into the German lodges.”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, November 29th.</i>—In the afternoon I sent -off another article on the Treaty with Bavaria, which is -to be reproduced and circulated in Berlin. It is becoming -more and more difficult to satisfy the people there.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant-General von Hartrott joined us at dinner. -The distribution of the Iron Cross having been -mentioned, the Chief observed: “The army doctors -should receive the black and white ribbon. They are -under fire, and it requires much more courage and -determination to quietly allow one’s self to be shot at -than to rush forward to the attack.... Blumenthal -said to me that properly speaking he could do nothing -to deserve the Cross, as he was bound in duty to keep -out of danger of being shot. For that reason when in -battle he always sought a position from which he could -see well but could not be easily hit. And he was -perfectly right. A general who exposes himself -unnecessarily ought to be put under arrest.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[p. 337]</span></p> - -<p>The Chancellor then remarked suddenly: “The -King told me an untruth to-day. I asked him if the -bombardment was not to commence, and he replied that -he had ordered it. But I knew immediately that that -was not true. I know him. He cannot lie, or at least -not in such a way that it cannot be detected. He at -once changes colour, and it was particularly noticeable -when he replied to my question to-day. When I looked -at him straight into his eyes he could not stand it.” -The conversation then turned upon the conduct of the -war. The Minister said: “Humility alone leads to -victory; pride and self-conceit to an opposite result.”</p> - -<p>The Chancellor, speaking of his friend Dietze, talked -of his natural inborn heartiness—<i lang="fr">politesse du cœur</i>. -Abeken asked if that term was originally French, as -Goethe uses it—<i lang="de">Höflichkeit des Herzens?</i> “It must -come from the German, I fancy.” “It certainly does,” -replied the Chief. “It is only to be found amongst the -Germans. I should call it the politeness of good will—good -nature in the best sense of the word, the politeness -of helpful benevolent feeling. You find that amongst -our common soldiers, although, of course, it is sometimes -expressed rather crudely. The French have not -got it. They only know the politeness of hatred and -envy. It would be easier to find something of the kind -amongst the English,” he added; and then went on to -praise Odo Russell, whose pleasant, natural manner he -greatly appreciated. “At first one thing aroused a -little suspicion against him in my mind. I have -always heard and found that Englishmen who know -French well are not worth much, and he speaks quite -excellent French. But he can also express himself very -well in German.”</p> - -<p>At dessert the Minister said: “I recognise that I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[p. 338]</span> -eat too much, or, more correctly, too much at a time. -It is a pity that I cannot get rid of the absurd practice -of only eating once a day. Formerly it was still worse. -In the morning I drank my tea and ate nothing until -5 o’clock in the evening, while I smoked incessantly. -That did me a great deal of harm. Now, on the advice -of my doctor, I take at least two eggs in the morning -and smoke little. But I should eat oftener; yet if I -take anything late I cannot sleep, as I only digest while -awake. This morning, however, I got up early. I was -waked by the firing just at the time when I sleep best, -that is between 7 and 9 o’clock, and as it seemed to be -near I sent to inquire if the King was going to the -scene of the engagement. Otherwise he might start -suddenly and go nobody knows where, or where nothing -is to be seen.”</p> - -<p>While at tea the conversation turned once more on -the now constant theme of the postponement of the -bombardment, and afterwards on the Geneva Convention, -which the Minister said must be denounced, as -it was impossible to conduct war in that manner.</p> - -<p>“The principal reason why the bombardment is -delayed,” said the Chancellor, “is the sentimentality -of the Queen of England, and the interference of Queen -Augusta.... That seems to be a characteristic of the -Hohenzollerns—their women folk have always a great -influence upon them. It was not so with Frederick the -Great, but with his successor and the late King, as well -as the present Most Gracious and his future Majesty. -The most curious example is that of Prince Charles, -who is anything but a good husband, and yet depends -upon his wife, indeed he is thoroughly afraid of her -and is guided by her wishes.... But it is somewhat -different with these two (the King and the Crown<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[p. 339]</span> -Prince). They want to be praised. They like to have -it said in the English and French press that they are -considerate and generous. They find that the Germans -praise them enough as it is.”</p> - -<p>It appears that Delbrück has not expressed himself -very clearly in his telegram respecting the prospect of -the agreement with Bavaria being sanctioned by the -Diet. It seems as if there were not sufficient members -present to form the necessary quorum, and that it -would be opposed both by the Progressists and National -Liberals. The Chief observed: “So far as the Progressists -are concerned, their conduct is consistent. -They wish to return to the state of affairs which -prevailed in 1849. But the National Liberals? If -they will not have now what they were striving for -with all their might at the beginning of the year, in -February, and what it now depends upon them to -secure, then we must dissolve. The new elections will -weaken the Progressist party still more, and some of -the National Liberals will also lose their seats. But -in that case the Treaties would not be completed. -Bavaria would reconsider the matter; Beust would put -his finger in the pie, and we do not know what the -result would be. I cannot well go to Berlin. It is -a very uncomfortable journey and takes up a lot of -time, and besides I am really wanted here.”</p> - -<p>Proceeding from this point the Minister spoke of -the position of affairs in 1848. “At that period the -situation was for a long time very favourable for the -unification of Germany under Prussia. The smaller -Sovereigns were for the most part powerless and despondent. -If they could only save their money, their -domains and their appropriations they were prepared -to consent to everything. The Austrians were engaged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[p. 340]</span> -with Hungary and Italy. The Tsar Nicholas would -not have intervened at that time. If they had only -acted in a resolute way previous to May, 1849, and come -to terms with the smaller States they would doubtless -have carried the South with them, particularly if the -Würtemberg and Bavarian armies joined the Baden -revolution, which was not impossible at that stage. -Time was lost, however, through hesitation and half -measures, and so the opportunity was thrown away.”</p> - -<p>About 11 o’clock another telegram arrived from -Verdy respecting this morning’s sortie which was -directed against La Haye. Five hundred red breeches -were made prisoners. The Chief bitterly regretted that -further prisoners should be taken, and that it was not -possible to shoot them down on the spot. “We have -more than enough of them, while the Parisians have -the advantage of getting rid of so many mouths to -feed, which must now be supplied by us, and for whom -we can hardly find room.”</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, November 30th.</i>—Wrote fully to -Treitschke, giving him the reasons why the demands -which he and those of his way of thinking consider -absolutely necessary had not been made upon the -Bavarians. Arranged to have a similar communication -made to Schmidt.</p> - -<p>The Chief seems to be seriously considering the idea -of asking the King to relieve him of his office. According -to Bucher he is already on the point of resigning.</p> - -<p>“The Chief,” he said, “informed me of something -to-day which nobody else knows. He is seriously considering -whether he will not break with the King.” I -said that in that case I should also take my leave. I -did not wish to serve under any one else. Bucher: -“Nor I either. I, too, would then resign.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[p. 341]</span></p> - -<p>At dinner, at which Prince Putbus and Odo Russell -were present, the Chief related that he had once tried -to use his knowledge of State secrets for the purpose of -speculating in stocks, but that his attempt was not successful. -“I was commissioned in Berlin,” he said, “to -speak to Napoleon on the question of Neuchâtel. It -must have been in the spring of 1857. I was to inquire -as to his attitude towards that question. Now, I -knew that his answer would be favourable, and that -this would mean a war with Switzerland. Accordingly, -on my way through Frankfurt, where I lived at that -time, I called upon Rothschild, whom I knew well, and -told him I intended to sell certain stock which I held, -and which showed no disposition to rise. ‘I would not do -that,’ said Rothschild. ‘That stock has good prospects. -You will see.’ ‘Yes,’ I said; ‘but if you knew the -object of my journey you would think otherwise.’ He -replied that, however that might be, he could not advise -me to sell. But I knew better, sold out and departed. -In Paris, Napoleon was very pleasant and amiable. It -was true he could not agree, as the King wanted to let -us march through Alsace-Lorraine, which would create -great excitement in France, but in every other respect -he entirely approved of our plans. It could only be a -matter of satisfaction to him if that nest of democrats -were cleared out. I was, therefore, so far successful. -But I had not reckoned with my King, who had in the -meantime, behind my back, made different arrangements—probably -out of consideration for Austria; -and so the affair was dropped. There was no war, and -my stock rose steadily from that time forward, and I -had reason to regret parting with them.”</p> - -<p>Villa Coublay and the bombardment were then -referred to, and the alleged impossibility of bringing up<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[p. 342]</span> -at once the necessary supply of ammunition. The Chief -said: “I have already informed the august gentlemen -a couple of times that we have here a whole herd of -horses that must be ridden out daily merely for exercise. -Why should they not be employed for once to better -purpose?”</p> - -<p>It was mentioned that the Palazzo Caffarelli in Rome -had been purchased for the German Embassy, and both -Russell and Abeken said it was a very fine building. -The Chancellor observed: “Well, we have also handsome -houses elsewhere, in Paris and in London. According -to Continental ideas, however, the London house -is too small. Bernstorff has so little room that he has -to give up his own apartments when he has a reception -or any other function of the kind. His Secretary of -Embassy is better off in that respect. The Embassy -in Paris is handsome and well situated. Indeed, it is -probably the best Embassy in Paris, and represents a -considerable money value, so that it has already occurred -to me whether it might not be well to sell it and give -the interest on the capital to the Ambassador as an -allowance for rent. The interest on two and a half -million francs would be a considerable addition to his -salary, which only amounts to one hundred thousand -francs. But on thinking the matter over more I found -that it would not do. It is not becoming, not worthy -of a great State, that its Ambassador should live in a -hired house, where he would be subject to notice to -quit, and on leaving would have to remove the archives -in a cart. We ought, and must have, our own houses -everywhere.”... “Our London house is an exceptional -case. It belongs to the King, and everything -depends on the way in which the Ambassador knows -how to look after his own interest. It may happen that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[p. 343]</span> -the King receives no rent—that actually does occur -sometimes.”</p> - -<p>The Chief spoke very highly of Napier, the former -English Ambassador in Berlin. “He was very easy to -get on with. Buchanan was also a good man, rather -dry, perhaps, but absolutely trustworthy. Now we have -Loftus. The position of an English Ambassador in -Berlin has its own special duties and difficulties, if only -on account of the personal relations of the two Royal -families. It demands a great deal of tact and care.” -(Presumably a quiet hint that Loftus does not fulfil -those requirements.)</p> - -<p>The Minister then led the conversation on to Grammont. -He said: “Grammont and Ollivier strike me -also as a pretty pair! If that had happened to me—if -I had been the cause of such disasters, I would at least -have joined a regiment, or, for the matter of that, have -become a franctireur, even if I had had to swing for -it. A tall, strong, coarse fellow like Grammont would -be exactly suited for a soldier’s life.”</p> - -<p>Russell mentioned having once seen Grammont out -shooting in Rome dressed in blue velvet. “Yes,” added -the Chief, “he is a good sportsman. He has the strength -of muscle required for it. He would have made an -excellent gamekeeper. But as a Minister for Foreign -Affairs, one can hardly conceive how Napoleon came to -select him.”</p> - -<p>The Minister joined us at the tea-table about 10 -o’clock, and referred again to the bombardment. He -said: “I did not from the very beginning wish to have -Paris invested. If what the general staff said at -Ferrières were correct, namely, that they could dispose -of a couple of the forts in three days, and then attack -the weak enceinte, it would have been all right. But it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[p. 344]</span> -was a mistake to let 60,000 regulars keep an army of -200,000 men engaged in watching them.” “One -month up to Sedan, and here we have already spent -three months, for to-morrow is the 1st of December. -If we had telegraphed immediately after Sedan for siege -guns we should be now in the city, and there would be -no intervention on the part of the neutral Powers. If -I had known that three months ago I should have been -extremely anxious. The danger of intervention on the -part of the neutral Powers increases daily. It begins in -a friendly way, but it may end very badly.” Keudell -remarked: “The idea of not bombarding first arose -here.” “Yes,” replied the Chief, “through the English -letters to the Crown Prince.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, December 1st.</i>—We were joined at dinner -by a first lieutenant, Von Saldern, who took part in -the last engagement between the 10th Army Corps and -the Loire army. According to him that corps was for a -considerable time surrounded by the superior French -force at Beaune la Rolande, the enemy endeavouring to -force their way through one of our wings towards -Fontainebleau. Our soldiers defended themselves with -the greatest gallantry and determination for seven -hours, Wedel’s troops and the men of the 16th regiment -specially distinguishing themselves. “We made over -1600 prisoners,” said Saldern, “and the total loss of -the French is estimated at four to five thousand.” “I -should have been better pleased,” said the Chief, “if -they had all been corpses. It is simply a disadvantage -to us now to make prisoners.”</p> - -<p>The Chief afterwards gave Abeken instructions respecting -communications to be made to the King. The -Chancellor looked through a number of despatches and -reports with him. Pointing to one document he said:<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[p. 345]</span> -“Do not give him that without an explanation. Tell -him how the matter arose, otherwise he will misunderstand -it. That long despatch from Bernstorff—well, -you can show him that also. But the newspaper article -enclosed—the gentlemen of the Embassy take things -very easy—I have already said frequently that such -articles must be translated, or, better still, that they -should be accompanied by a <i lang="fr">précis</i>. And tell his -Majesty also,” said the Minister in conclusion, “that, -properly speaking, we ought not to allow the Frenchman -to join the Conference in London” (the approaching Conference -on the revision of the Paris Treaty of 1856), “as -he would represent a Government which is not -recognised by the Powers, and which will have no legal -existence for a long time to come. We can do it to -please Russia in this question. At any rate, if he begins -to speak of other matters he must at once be sent about -his business.”</p> - -<p>The Chief then related the following incident: “To-day, -after calling upon Roon, I made a round which -may prove to have been useful. I inspected Marie -Antoinette’s apartment in the palace, and then I thought -I would see how the wounded were getting on. The -servant who acted as my guide had a pass-key, so I -decided not to go in by the main entrance, but by the -back way. I asked one of the hospital attendants what -food the people had. Not very much. A little soup, -which was supposed to be bouillon, with broken bread -and some grains of rice, which were not even boiled soft. -There was hardly any meat fat in it. ‘And how about -wine? and do they get any beer?’ I asked. They got -about half a glass of wine during the day, he said. I -inquired of another, who had had none, and then of a -third who had had some three days ago and none since<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[p. 346]</span> -then. I then went on to question several of the men, in -all about a dozen, down to the Poles, who could not -understand me, but showed their pleasure at somebody -taking an interest in them by smiling. So that our -poor wounded soldiers do not get what they ought to, -and suffer from cold besides, because the rooms must not -be warmed for fear of injuring the pictures. As if the -life of one of our soldiers was not worth more than all -the trashy pictures in the palace! The servant told me -also that the oil lamps only remained alight until 11 -o’clock, and that after that the men have to lie in the -dark until morning. I had previously spoken to a non-commissioned -officer, who was wounded in the foot. He -said he did not want to complain, although things could -be much better. Some consideration was paid to him, -but as to the others! A member of the Bavarian Ambulance -Corps now plucked up courage, and said that -wine and beer had been provided, but that half of it had -probably been intercepted somewhere; it was the same -with hot food and other presents. I then made my way -to the chief surgeon. ‘How about provisions for the -wounded?’ I asked. ‘Do they get enough to eat?’ -‘Here is the bill of fare,’ he replied. ‘That is no good -to me,’ I said; ‘the people cannot eat paper. Do they -get wine?’ ‘Half a litre daily.’ ‘Excuse me, but that -is not true. I have questioned the men, and I cannot -believe they were lying when they told me that they -had not received any.’ ‘I call God to witness that -everything here is done properly and according to -instructions. Please come with me and I will question -the men in your presence.’ ‘I will do nothing of the -kind,’ I answered; ‘but measures shall be taken to have -them questioned by the auditor as to whether they have -received what has been ordered for them by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[p. 347]</span> -inspector.’ He turned deadly pale—I see him now—an -old wound showed up on his face. ‘That would be a -great reflection upon me,’ he said. ‘Certainly,’ I -replied, ‘and it ought to be. I shall take care that the -affair is inquired into—and speedily.’”<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a>... “What I -should like best would be to induce the King to visit -the wounded with me.” He afterwards added: “We -have two classes in particular amongst whom frauds -occur: the weevils that have to do with the commissariat -and the officials in the public works department, -especially in the water works. Then the doctors. -I remember not long ago—it must be about a year and a -half ago—there was a great inquiry into frauds connected -with the passing of recruits for the army, in which, -to my amazement, some thirty doctors were involved.”</p> - -<p>About 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> the Chief joined us at tea. -After a while he remarked: “The newspapers are dissatisfied -with the Bavarian Treaty. I expected as -much from the beginning. They are displeased that -certain officials are called Bavarian, although they will -have to conform entirely to our laws. And the same -with regard to the army. The beer tax is also not to -their liking, as if we had not had it for years past in -the Zollverein. And so on with a crowd of other -objections, although after all the important point has -been attained and properly secured.”... “They talk as if -we had been waging war against Bavaria as we did -in 1866 against Saxony, although this time we have -Bavaria as an ally on our side.”... “Before approving -the treaty they want to wait and see whether the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[p. 348]</span> -unity of Germany will be secured in the form they -prefer. They can wait a long time for that. The -course they are taking leads only to fresh delays, while -speedy action is necessary. If we hesitate the devil -will find time to sow dissensions. The treaty gives us -a great deal. Whoever wants to have everything runs -the risk of getting nothing. They are not content with -what has been achieved. They require more uniformity. -If they would only remember the position of affairs -five years ago, and what they would then have been satisfied -with!”... “A Constituent Assembly! But what -if the King of Bavaria should not permit representatives -to be elected to it? The Bavarian people would not -compel him, nor would I. It is easy to find fault, when -one has no proper idea of the conditions which govern -the situation.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then came to speak on another subject: -“I have just read a report on the surprise of the Unna -battalion. Some of the inhabitants of Chatillon took -part in it—others, it is true, hid our people. It is a -wonder that they did not burn down the town in their -first outburst of anger. Afterwards, of course, in cold -blood that would not do.”</p> - -<p>After a short pause, the Chief took some coins out of -his pocket and played with them for a moment, remarking -at the same time: “It is surprising how many respectably -dressed beggars one meets with here. There -were some at Reims, but it is much worse here.”... -“How seldom one now sees a gold piece with the head of -Louis Philippe or Charles <abbr title="10">X.</abbr>! When I was young, between -twenty and thirty, coins of Louis <abbr title="16">XVI.</abbr> and of the -fat Louis <abbr title="18">XVIII.</abbr> were still to be seen. Even the expression -‘<span lang="fr">louis d’or</span>’ is no longer usual with us. In -polite -circles one speaks of a friedrich d’or.” The Chancellor<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[p. 349]</span> -then balanced a napoleon on the tip of his middle finger, -as if he were weighing it, and continued: “A hundred -million double napoleons d’or would represent about the -amount of the war indemnity up to the present—later -on it will be more, four thousand million francs. Forty -thousand thalers in gold would make a hundredweight, -thirty hundredweight would make a load for a -heavy two-horse waggon—(I know that because I once -had to convey fourteen thousand thalers in gold from -Berlin to my own house. What a weight it was!)—that -would be about 800 waggon loads.” “It would -not take so long to collect the carts for that purpose as -it does for the ammunition for the bombardment,” -observed some one, who, like most of us, was losing -patience at the slow progress of the preparations. -“Yes,” said the Chief; “Roon, however, told me the -other day, he had several hundred carts at Nanteuil, -which could be used for the transport of ammunition. -Moreover some of the waggons that are now drawn by -six horses could do with four for a time, and the two spare -horses thus could be used for bringing up ammunition. -We have already 318 guns here, but they want forty -more, and Roon says he could have them also brought -up. The others however won’t hear of it.”</p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt afterwards said: “It is only six or seven -weeks since they altered their minds. At Ferrières, -while we were still on good terms with them, Bronsart -and Verdy said we could level the forts of Issy and -Vanvres to the ground in thirty-six hours, and then -attack Paris itself. Later on it was suddenly found to -be impossible.” “Because of the letters received from -London,” exclaimed Bismarck-Bohlen. I asked what -Moltke thought of the matter. “He does not trouble -himself about it!” answered Hatzfeldt. But Bucher<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[p. 350]</span> -declared that Moltke wanted the bombardment to take -place.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, December 2nd.</i>—I see Neininger in the -morning and learn that he succeeded in obtaining -an audience from the Chief by playing the informer. -He hinted to a <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Schuster of Geneva that “there -might possibly be collusion between the foreign settlement -collected round headquarters, and the <i lang="fr">personnel</i> -of the Government of National Defence,” and also that -there were “fresh symptoms of intimate relations being -maintained across the German investing lines with the -Oriental colony at Versailles.” Schuster managed to convey -these hints to the Minister. The “Oriental colony,” -however, (a title which is intended to apply chiefly to -Löwinsohn, and after him to Bamberg) appears to be -innocent, and the intrigue to have been contrived merely -for the purpose of providing a better position for -Neininger on the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> by securing the dismissal of -the other two journalists.</p> - -<p>Subsequently wrote some letters and articles again -setting forth the Chief’s views in the matter of the -Bavarian Treaty, and translated for the King the leading -article in <cite>The Times</cite> on Gortschakoff’s reply to Granville’s -despatch.</p> - -<p>Alten, Lehndorff and a dragoon officer Herr von -Thadden, were the Chief’s guests at dinner.</p> - -<p>The Chief said that he had taken measures for providing -our sentries with more comfortable quarters. -“Up to the present they occupied Madame Jesse’s coach-house, -which has no fireplace. That would not do any -longer, so I ordered the gardener to clear out half of the -greenhouse for them. ‘But Madame’s plants will be -frozen,’ said the gardener’s wife. ‘A great pity,’ said I. -‘I suppose it would be better if the soldiers froze.’”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[p. 351]</span></p> - -<p>The Chief then referred to the danger of the -Reichstag rejecting, or even merely amending, the -treaty with Bavaria. “I am very anxious about it. -People have no idea what the position is. We are -balancing ourselves on the point of a lightning conductor. -If we lose the equilibrium, which at much -pains I have succeeded in establishing, we fall to the -ground. They want more than can be obtained without -coercion, and more than they would have been very -pleased to accept before 1866. If at that time they -had got but half what they are getting to-day! No; -they must needs improve upon it and introduce more -unity, more uniformity; but if they change so much as -a comma, fresh negotiations must be undertaken. Where -are they to take place? Here in Versailles? And if -we cannot bring them to a close before the 1st of -January—which many of the people in Munich would -be glad of—then German unity is lost, probably for -years, and the Austrians can set to work again in -Munich.”</p> - -<p>Mushrooms dressed in two ways were the first dish -after the soup. “These must be eaten in a thoughtful -spirit,” said the Chief, “as they are a present from some -soldiers who found them growing in a quarry or a cellar. -The cook has made an excellent sauce for them. A still -more welcome gift, and certainly a rare one, was made -to me the other day by the—what a shame! I have -quite forgotten. What regiment was it sent me the -roses?” “The 46th,” replied Bohlen. “Yes; it was a -bouquet of roses plucked under fire, probably in a garden -near the outposts.” “By the way, that reminds me -that I met a Polish soldier in the hospital who cannot -read German. He would very much like to have a -Polish prayer book. Does anybody happen to have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[p. 352]</span> -something of that kind?” Alten said no, but he could -give him some Polish newspapers. The Chief: “That -won’t do. He would not understand them, and besides -they stir up the people against us. But perhaps -Radziwill has something. A Polish novel would do—<cite lang="pl">Pan -Twardowski</cite> or something of that kind.” Alten -promised to see if he could get anything.</p> - -<p>Mention was made of Ducrot, who in all likelihood -commanded the French forces engaged in to-day’s sortie, -and it was suggested he had good reason not to allow -himself to be made prisoner. “Certainly,” said the -Minister. “He will either get himself killed in action; -or if he has not courage enough for that, which I am -rather inclined to believe, he will make off in a -balloon.”</p> - -<p>Some one said Prince Wittgenstein (if I am not mistaken, -a Russian aide-de-camp) would also be glad to -leave Paris.</p> - -<p>Alten added: “Yes, in order that he might go in -again. I fancy it is a kind of sport for him.”</p> - -<p>The Chief: “That might be all very well for a person -who inspired confidence. But I never trusted him, and -when he wished to return to Paris recently, neither I -nor the general staff wanted to let him through. He -succeeded in obtaining permission surreptitiously through -the good nature of the King. Never mind. Possibly -things may yet be discovered about him that will ruin -him in St. Petersburg.”</p> - -<p>The subject of Stock Exchange speculation was again -introduced, and the Chief once more denied the possibility -of turning to much account the always very -limited knowledge which one may have of political -events beforehand. Such events only affect the Bourse -afterwards, and the day when that is going to happen<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[p. 353]</span> -cannot be foreseen. “Of course, if one could contrive -things so as to produce a fall—but that is dishonourable! -Grammont has done so, according to what Russell -recently stated. He doubled his fortune in that way. -One might almost say that he brought about the war -with that object. Moustier also carried on that sort of -business—not for himself, but with the fortune of his -mistress—and when it was on the point of being discovered, -he poisoned himself. One might take advantage -of one’s position in a rather less dishonest way by -arranging to have the Bourse quotations from all the -Stock Exchanges sent off with the political despatches -by obliging officials abroad. The political despatches -take precedence of the Bourse telegrams, so that one -would gain from twenty minutes to half an hour. One -would then want a quick-footed Jew to secure this -advantage. I know people who have done it. In that -way one might earn fifteen hundred to fifteen thousand -thalers daily, and in a few years that makes a handsome -fortune. But, all the same, it remains ugly; and my -son shall not say of me that that was how I made him a -rich man. He can become rich in some other way—through -speculation with his own property, through the -sale of timber, by marriage, or something of the kind. -I was much better off before I was made Chancellor -than I am now. My grants have ruined me. My affairs -have been embarrassed ever since. Previously I regarded -myself as a simple country gentleman; now that I, to -a certain extent, belong to the peerage, my requirements -are increasing and my estates bring me in -nothing. As Minister at Frankfurt I always had a -balance to my credit, and also in St. Petersburg, where -I was not obliged to entertain, and did not.”</p> - -<p>In the afternoon Friedlander called upon me with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[p. 354]</span> -an invitation, which I was obliged to decline. Our fat -friend knew exactly why the bombardment did not take -place. “Blumenthal will not agree to it because the -Crown Prince does not want it,” he said; “and behind -him are the two Victorias.” So an Artillery officer told -him a few days ago.</p> - -<p><i>Addendum.</i>—According to a pencil note which I -have now laid hands on, Bohlen remarked yesterday at -dinner that he understood many valuable pictures and -manuscripts removed by the French from Germany -had not been returned. Some one else observed that it -would be difficult to put this right now. “Well,” said -the Chief, “we could take others of equal value in their -stead. We could, for instance, pack up the best of the -pictures out of the Gallery here.” “Yes, and sell them -to the Americans,” added Bohlen; “they would give us -a good price for them.”</p> - -<p>According to another note the Chancellor related -(doubtless on the occasion when Holnstein dined with -us): “In Crehanges the Augustenburger again tricked -me into shaking hands with him. A Bavarian Colonel -or General came over to me and held out his hand, -which I took. I could not put a name to the face, and -when I had, it was too late. If I could only come across -him again, I would say to him, ‘You treacherously purloined -a hand from me at Crehanges; will you please -restore it?’”</p> - -<p>I afterwards wrote an article on the neutrality of -Luxemburg, and the perfidious way in which people -there are taking advantage of it to help the French in -every sort of way. It ran as follows:—We declared at -the commencement of the war that we would respect -the neutrality of the Grand Duchy, the neutrality of -its government and people being thereby assumed.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[p. 355]</span> -That condition, however, has not been fulfilled, the -Luxemburgers having been guilty of flagrant breaches -of neutrality, although we on our part have kept our -promise in spite of the inconvenience to which we have -often been put, especially in connection with the transport -of our wounded. We have already had occasion -to complain of the fortress of Thionville having been -provisioned by trains despatched at night with the -assistance of the railway officials and police authorities -of the Grand Duchy. After the capitulation of Metz -numbers of French soldiers passed through Luxemburg -with the object of returning to France and rejoining -the French army. The French Vice-Consul opened a -regular office at the Luxemburg railway station, where -soldiers were provided with money and passports for -their journey. The Grand Ducal Government permitted -all this to go on without making any attempt to prevent -it. They cannot, therefore, complain if in future -military operations we pay no regard to the neutrality -of the country, or if we demand compensation for the -injury done by breaches of neutrality due to such -culpable negligence.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, December 4th.</i>—We were joined at dinner -by Roggenbach, a former Baden Minister, and von -Niethammer, a member of the Bavarian Ambulance -Corps, whose acquaintance the Chief made recently in -the hospital.</p> - -<p>The Chief spoke at first of having again visited the -wounded, and afterwards added:—“Leaving Frankfurt -and St. Petersburg out of account, I have now been -longer here than in any other foreign town during my -whole life. We shall spend Christmas here, which we -had not expected to do, and we may remain at Versailles -till Easter and see the trees grow green again, whilst<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[p. 356]</span> -we wait for news of the Loire army. Had we only -known we might have planted asparagus in the garden -here.”</p> - -<p>The Minister afterwards said, addressing Roggenbach:—“I -have just looked through the newspaper -extracts. How they do abuse the treaties! They -simply tear them into shreds. The <cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite>, -the <cite lang="de">Kölnische</cite>,—the <cite lang="de">Weser Zeitung</cite> is still the most -reasonable, as it always is. Of course one must put -up with criticism; but then one is responsible if the -negotiations come to nothing, while the critics have -no responsibility. I am indifferent as to their censure -so long as the thing gets through the Reichstag. -History may say that the wretched Chancellor ought -to have done better; but I was responsible. If the -Reichstag introduces amendments every German Diet -can do the same, and then the thing will drag on and -we shall not be able to secure the peace we desire and -need. We cannot demand the cession of Alsace if no -political entity is created, if there is no Germany to -cede it to.”</p> - -<p>The question of the peace negotiations to follow -in the approaching capitulation of Paris was then -discussed, and the difficulties which might arise. The -Chief said:—“Favre and Trochu may say, ‘We are not -the Government. We were part of it at one time, but -now that we have surrendered we are private persons. -I am nothing more than Citizen Trochu.’ But at that -point I should try a little coercion on the Parisians. I -should say to them: ‘I hold you, two million people, -responsible in your own persons. I shall let you starve -for twenty-four hours unless you agree to our demands.’ -Yes, and yet another four-and-twenty hours, come what -might of it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[p. 357]</span></p> - -<p>“I would stick to my point—but the King, the Crown -Prince, the women who force their sentimental views -upon them, and certain secret European connections—I -can deal with those in front of me—but those who stand -behind me, behind my back, or rather who weigh upon -me so that I cannot breathe!—people for whom the -German cause and German victories are not the main -question; but, rather, their anxiety to be praised in -English newspapers. Ah, if one were but the Landgrave!—I -could trust myself to be hard enough. But, -unfortunately, one is not the Landgrave.<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> Quite recently, -in their maudlin solicitude for the Parisians, -they have again brought forward a thoroughly foolish -scheme. Great stores of provisions from London and -Belgium are to be collected for the Parisians. The -storehouses are to be within our lines, and our soldiers -are merely to look at them, but not to touch them, however -much they may themselves suffer from scarcity -and hunger. These supplies are to prevent the Parisians -starving when they shall have capitulated. We, in this -house, it is true, have enough, but the troops are on -short commons; yet they must suffer in order that the -Parisians, when they learn that supplies have been -collected for them, may postpone their capitulation till -they have eaten their last loaf and slaughtered their -last horse. I shall not be consulted, otherwise I’d -rather be hanged than consent to it. But I am, nevertheless, -responsible. I was imprudent enough to call -attention to the famine that must ensue. It is true I -mentioned it merely to the diplomatists. But they -have thus become aware of the fact. Otherwise it -would not have occurred to them.”</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[p. 358]</span></p> -<p>Swiss cheese having been handed round, some one -raised the question whether cheese and wine went well -together. “Some descriptions with certain wines,” was -the Minister’s decision. “Not strong ones like Gorgonzola -and Dutch cheese, but others are all right. I -remember that at the time when people drank hard in -Pomerania—two hundred years ago or more—the good -folks of Rammin were the greatest topers in the country. -One of them happened to get a supply of wine from -Stettin, which was not quite to his liking. He complained -accordingly to the merchant, who replied: -‘<i lang="de">Eet kees to Wien, Herr von Rammin, deen smeckt de -Wien wie in Stettin ook to Rammin.</i>’” (Low German: -“Eat cheese to your wine, good sir, from Rammin, then -the wine will taste as good in Rammin as it does here -in Stettin.”)</p> - -<p>Abeken, who had been with the King, came in afterwards, -and reported that his Majesty considered it -would be well to write again to the Emperor of Russia, -and give him the views held here respecting the Gortschakoff -Note. The Chief said: “I think not. Enough -has been already written and telegraphed on the subject. -They know in St. Petersburg what we think. At least -we must not write discourteously, but rather in a -friendly and amiable spirit: It is better however to say -nothing. If it were England! But we shall still want -Russia’s good will in the immediate future. When that -is no longer necessary, we can afford to be rude.”</p> - -<p>Bohlen said: “They are quite beside themselves in -Berlin. They will have tremendous rejoicings there -to-morrow, about the Emperor. They are going to -illuminate the town, and are making immense preparations—a -regular scene from fairyland!” “I fancy that -will have a good effect on the Reichstag,” observed the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[p. 359]</span> -Chief. “It was really very nice of Roggenbach to start -off at once for Berlin” (in order to urge moderation -upon the grumblers in the Reichstag). “They” (the -members of Parliament, or the Berliners?) “attach -much more importance to the title of Emperor than the -thing really deserves—although I do not mean to -say it is of no value.”</p> - -<p>“That was really funny,” said Bohlen, “what -Holnstein told us about his interview with the King of -Bavaria while he had a toothache!”</p> - -<p>“And the way I wrote to him in order to -bring him round,” added the Chancellor. “I knew -that he could not bear me, and did not trust me. -So I wrote to him at last, that one of our estates -had been granted to our family by Ludwig, the -Bavarian, as Lord of Brandenburg, and that consequently -we had had relations with his house for more -than five centuries. That was true, in so far as the -estates which we now hold were given to us in exchange -for those which the Hohenzollerns extorted from us. -Holnstein said the letter must have pleased the King -very much, as he asked to read it again. It was -Holnstein who did most in this matter. He played his -part very cleverly. Tell me (to Bohlen), what Order -can we give him?”</p> - -<p>Bohlen: “He got the first class of the red fowl -(the Red Eagle), when the Crown Prince was in Munich.”</p> - -<p>“Well then,” said the Chief, “he has got the -highest decoration that can be given to him.”</p> - -<p>Bohlen: “Well, the King might give him the -Imperial German Order, about which Stillfried is already -meditating, or he can found a new Prussian Order, and -thus supply a long-felt want.”</p> - -<p>The Chief: “The Green Lion.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[p. 360]</span></p> - -<p>Bohlen: “The German Order, with a black, white, -and red ribbon.”</p> - -<p>The Chief: “Or with the colours of the German -Knights, a white ribbon with small black stripes. It -looks very well. The King did not rightly know what -it was all about when Holnstein requested an audience. -He said to me, ‘I observed to Holnstein, that I supposed -he wished to see Versailles.’ Of course, he (King -William) could not have arranged that himself”—(<i>i.e.</i>, -he could not have arranged to acquire the Imperial -dignity through the good offices of Bavaria.)</p> - -<p>Werther, our Minister at Munich, seems to have -reported that it was intended there to commission -Prince Luitpold with the proclamation of the Emperor. -The Chancellor observed: “A singular idea! Another -example of the way in which Bray treats matters of -business. How is he to do it? Step on to a balcony, -and proclaim it?—to whom? That might do if all the -Princes were here—but with the three or four now -present! I had hoped that we should have made peace -before German unity was secured.”</p> - -<p>Bohlen: “How pleased the King will feel at being -made Emperor! and still more so, the Crown Prince!”</p> - -<p>The Chief: “Yes, and no doubt he is already thinking -about the cut of the Imperial robes.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, December 5th.</i>—The Chief sent for me, and -gave me his instructions for a <i lang="fr">démenti</i> with regard to -the Bavarian Treaty, in which his ideas were to be -somewhat differently expressed. It was to the following -effect. The rumour that the Chancellor of the Confederation -only concluded the treaties with the South -German States, in anticipation that they would be -rejected, or at least amended in the Reichstag, is -entirely without foundation. The debate on the treaties<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[p. 361]</span> -must be brought to a close during the month of December, -and they must be adopted in their entirety, in -order that they may come into force on the 1st of -January. Otherwise, everything will remain uncertain. -If the representatives of North Germany alter -the treaties, the South German Diets will be entitled -to make further amendments in a contrary sense, and -there is no knowing how far that right might not be -exercised. In such circumstances, the nation might -have still to wait a long time for its political unity. -(“Perhaps ten years,” said the Chief, “and <i lang="la">interim -aliquid fit</i>.”) In that case, also the Treaty of Peace -might not be what we desire. The treaties may be -deficient, but they can always be gradually improved -by the Reichstag, in co-operation with the Bundesrath, -and through the pressure of public opinion and national -sentiment. There is no hurry about that. If public -opinion brings no pressure to bear in that direction, it -is obvious that the present arrangement meets the views -of the majority of the nation. Men of national sentiment -at Versailles are very anxious and uneasy at the -prevailing dispositions in Berlin. They are, however, -to some extent reassured by the fact that the <cite lang="de">Volkszeitung</cite> -opposes the Bavarian Treaty, as people have -gradually grown accustomed to find that all persons of -political insight as a rule reject whatever that journal -praises and recommends, and are disposed to adopt -whatever it deprecates and censures.</p> - -<p>At dinner Bamberger, the member of the Reichstag, -was on the Chief’s left. He is also going to Berlin in -order to plead for the adoption, without alteration, of -the treaties with South Germany. The conversation -first turned on doctors and their knowledge, whereupon -the Chief (I cannot now remember on what grounds)<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[p. 362]</span> -delivered the following weighty judgment: “Ah, yes, -if doctors were only sensible men; but as it is, they are -dolts.” The question of the treaties was then discussed, -and the attitude of the Princes in this matter was -admitted to be correct. “Yes, but the Reichstag,” said -the Chancellor; “it reminds me of Kaiser Heinrich and -his ‘Gentlemen, you have spoiled my sport.’<a id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> In that -instance it ultimately turned out all right, but in this! -All the members of the Reichstag might sacrifice themselves -one after another upon the altar of the Fatherland—it -would be all to no purpose.” After reflecting -for a moment, the Minister continued, with a smile: -“Members of the Diet and the Reichstag should be -made responsible, like Ministers, no more and no less, -and placed on a footing of absolute equality. A Bill -should provide for the impeachment for treason of -members of Parliament when they reject important -State treaties, or, as in Paris, approve of a war undertaken -on frivolous pretexts. They were all in favour of -the war, with the exception of Jules Favre. Perhaps I -shall bring in some such measure one day.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned upon the approaching -capitulation of Paris, which must take place, at latest, -within a month. “Ah!” sighed the Chancellor, “it is -then that my troubles will begin in earnest.”... Bamberger -was of opinion that they should not be allowed -merely to capitulate, but should immediately be called -upon to conclude peace. “Quite so,” said the Chief. -“That is exactly my view, and they should be forced to -do so by starvation. But there are people who want, -above all else, to be extolled for their humane feelings, -and they will spoil everything—altogether forgetting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[p. 363]</span> -the fact that we must think of our own soldiers, and -take care that they shall not suffer want and be shot -down to no purpose. It is just the same with the -bombardment. And then we are told to spare people -who are searching for potatoes; they should be shot -too, if we want to reduce the city by starvation.”</p> - -<p>After 8 o’clock, I was called to the Chief several -times, and wrote two paragraphs for the <cite lang="de">Spenersche -Zeitung</cite> in accordance with his instructions. The first -ran as follows:—“The Vienna newspapers recently -stated that ‘the German Austrians did not wish for -war, and the majority of the Austrian Slavs just as -little.’ But there is in Austria, and in Hungary, a not -very numerous but influential party which does desire -war. When inquiry is made as to their real motive for -doing so, it is found to arise from pride and arrogance, -from a kind of frivolous chivalry, from a real hunger -for political luxuries, from the determination to play the -Grand Seigneur before the world. The Austrians of -this party, in which very distinguished personages are -the moving spirits, seem to us to resemble the princely -family of Esterhazy. It is an ancient house, of high -rank, with great estates and a large fortune. Its -members might well have been content to occupy so -eminent a position. But the evil genius of the family -continually drove them into extravagance, into making -too great demands upon their resources, into squandering -enormous sums on horses, diamonds, &c., with the -object of displaying their wealth and importance; so -that they fell into debt, and, finally, came to the verge -of bankruptcy. The Esterhazy Lottery was then -resorted to, and actually did tide them over their -difficulties. The family was saved. But scarcely have -they begun to breathe freely, and to regain their footing,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[p. 364]</span> -when their evil genius once more inspires them, and the -old game goes on again, until, at length, a time will -come when even a lottery will no longer save them. -The Austrian party to which we have already referred -seems to us to present a close resemblance to the -Esterhazys. The State is a fine property, with excellent -natural advantages, a rich soil, and a great variety of -valuable resources. But the policy of the proprietors -is exactly the same as that of the Esterhazys. They -must always overreach themselves, and try to be more -than they really are. The evil genius of the State -regards as a necessity what is in reality mere luxury, -self-conceit, and the desire to cut a great figure in the -world. In that way, the ancient and wealthy house has -become a comparatively poor one, with a touch of the -Quixotic, and a still stronger flavour of unfair dealing, -which is very badly suited to our matter-of-fact age, -when so much importance is attached to the ability to -pay one’s way. Every now and then, the State, like its -prototype the Esterhazys, escapes out of its troubles -by means of a lottery, or of some not particularly -respectable financial manœuvre; but then it suddenly -puts forward fresh claims to a position beyond its means, -presumes to play the part of a great Power, squanders -millions on mobilisation, as its prototype does on stables -and diamonds, and thus sinks deeper and deeper into -financial difficulties. Instead of being able to satisfy -its creditors by good management and a modest bearing, -it moves steadily forward, without pause or rest, towards -that bankruptcy which for a considerable space -has only been a question of time.”</p> - -<p>The foregoing is an almost literal reproduction of -the Chief’s own words. I did not venture, however, -to incorporate his concluding remarks, which were as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[p. 365]</span> -follows: “The Hapsburgs have really become great -through plundering old families—the Hungarians, for -instance. At bottom they are only a family of police -spies (<i lang="de">polizeilich-Spitzelfamilie</i>) who lived upon and -made their fortune by confiscations.”</p> - -<p>The second paragraph, which referred to a statement -in the <cite lang="fr">Indépendance Belge</cite>, pointed out that the -relationship between the Orleans and the House of -Hapsburg-Lorraine through the Duc d’Alençon, could -not induce us Germans to regard them with any special -favour. The paragraph was to the following effect. It -is known that Trochu declined the offer of the Princes -of the House of Orleans to take part in the struggle -against us. The <cite lang="fr">Indépendance Belge</cite> now states that -the Duc d’Alençon, second son of the Duc de Nemours, -who was at that time incapacitated by illness from -joining his uncles and cousins in their offer of service, -has now sought salvation by adopting a similar course. -The Brussels organ adds the significant remark: “It -will be remembered that the Duc d’Alençon is married -to a sister of the Empress of Austria.” We understand -that hint, and believe we shall be speaking in the spirit -of German policy in replying to it as follows:—The -Orleans are quite as hostile to us as the other dynasties -that are fishing for the French throne. Their journals -are filled with lies and abuse directed against us. We -have not forgotten the hymn of praise which the Duc -de Joinville raised after the battle of Wörth to the -franctireurs who had acted like assassins. The only -French Government we care for is that which can do us -the least harm, because it is most occupied with its own -affairs, and with maintaining its own position against -its rivals. Otherwise Orleanists, Legitimists, Imperialists, -and Republicans are all of the same value or no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">[p. 366]</span> -value to us. And as for those who throw out hints -about the Austrian relationship, they would do well to -be on their guard, as we are on ours. There is in -Austria-Hungary one party in favour of Germany and -another hostile to her,—a party that wants to continue -the policy of Kaunitz in the Seven Years’ War, a policy -of constant conspiracy with France against German -interests, and particularly against Prussia. That is the -policy which has recently been connected with Metternich’s -name, and which was pursued from 1815 to 1866. -Since then more or less vigorous attempts have been -made to continue it. It is the party of which the -younger Metternich is regarded as the leader. He has -for years past been looked upon as the most ardent -advocate of a Franco-Austrian alliance against Germany, -and one of the principal instigators of the present war. -If the Orleans believe that their prospects are improved -by their connection with Austria, they ought also to -know that for that very reason they have nothing to -hope from us.</p> - -<p>After Bucher, Keudell and myself had been for some -time at tea, we were joined by the Chief, and afterwards -by Hatzfeldt, who had been with the King. He said it -was intolerably dull there.</p> - -<p>“Grimm, the Russian Councillor of State, gave us a -variety of wearisome particulars about Louis Quatorze -and Louis Quinze. The W. worried us, and me in -particular, with silly questions.” (He pouted his lips, -assumed a killing smile, and bent his head to one side, -imitating the Grand Duke’s affectations.) “He informed -us that the students at St. Cyr all received a portrait of -Madame Maintenon, and that he himself had one also. -The King, who had occasionally rubbed his eyes, -observed somewhat pointedly, ‘I suppose they were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">[p. 367]</span> -photographs.’ ‘No, oh no, engravings.’ ‘Well, then, -what did you do with yours?’ the King asked. ‘Why, -nothing, I kept it.’ The Grand Duke then asked me—he -had obviously prepared the question in advance, and -perhaps learnt it by heart—‘Is the <cite lang="fr">Revue des Deux -Mondes</cite> still published? An interesting newspaper.’ I -replied, ‘I do not know, your Royal Highness.’ ‘Who -is the editor?’ ‘I do not know that either.’ ‘So-o-o!’ -The aides-de-camp were cruelly bored, and one of -them nudged Lehndorff, begging him in a whisper to -give the old fool a rap on the head with his crutch.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he is a fearful bore,” added the Chief. -“What a miserable position it must be for a man whose -father was a Court official to him or one like him, and -who has to assume the same office himself—a chamberlain -or something of that kind, who has to listen day after -day to all that twaddle, and has no prospect of ever -becoming anything else! The Queen is just such -another. She was educated in the same school. I -remember she once questioned me on a literary subject, -I believe it was about some French book or other. ‘I -do not know, your Majesty,’ I replied. ‘Ah, I suppose -that does not interest you.’ ‘No, your Majesty.’ -Radowitz was very strong on those subjects. He -boldly gave every kind of information, and in that way -secured a great deal of his success at Court. He was -able to tell exactly what Maintenon or Pompadour wore -on such and such a day; such and such a gewgaw on -her neck, her head-dress trimmed with colibris or grapes, -her gown pearl-grey or peacock-green with furbelows or -lace of this or that description—exactly as if he had -been there at the time. The ladies were all ear for -these toilette lectures, which he poured forth with the -utmost fluency.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[p. 368]</span></p> - -<p>The conversation then turned upon Alexander von -Humboldt, who appears to have been a courtier too, but -not of the amusing variety. The Chief said: “Under -the late King I was the sole victim when Humboldt -chose to entertain the company in his own style. He -usually read, often for hours at a time, the biography -of some French savant or architect in whom nobody in -the world except himself took the slightest interest. -He stood by the lamp holding the paper close to the -light, and occasionally paused for the purpose of making -some learned observation. Although nobody listened -to him he had the ear of the house. The Queen was -all the time at work on a piece of tapestry, and certainly -did not understand a word of what he said. The King -looked through his portfolios of engravings, turning -them over as noisily as possible, evidently with the intention -of not hearing him. The young people on -both sides and in the background enjoyed themselves -without the least restraint, so that their cackling and -giggling actually drowned his reading, which however -rippled on without break or stop like a brook. Gerlach, -who was usually present, sat on his small round chair -which could barely accommodate his voluminous person, -and slept so soundly that he snored. The King was -once obliged to wake him, and said, ‘Pray, Gerlach, -don’t snore so loud!’ I was Humboldt’s only patient -listener, that is to say I sat silent and pretended to -listen, at the same time following my own thoughts, -until at length cold cake and white wine were served. -It put the old gentleman in very bad humour not to -be allowed to have the talk all to himself. I remember -once there was somebody there who managed to -monopolise the conversation, quite naturally, it is true, -as he was a clever raconteur and spoke about things<span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">[p. 369]</span> -that interested everybody. Humboldt was beside -himself. In a peevish surly temper he piled his plate -so high (pointing with his hand) with <i lang="fr">pâté de foie gras</i>, -fat eels, lobsters’ tails, and other indigestible stuff,—a -real mountain,—it was astounding that an old man -could put it all away. At last his patience was exhausted, -and he could not stand it any longer. So he -tried to interrupt the speaker. ‘On the peak of -Popocatapetl,’ he began,—but the other went on with -his story. ‘On the peak of Popocatapetl, seven -thousand fathoms above’—but he again failed to make -any impression, and the narrative maintained its easy -flow. ‘On the peak of Popocatapetl, seven thousand -fathoms above the level of the sea,’ he exclaimed in a -loud and excited tone,—but with as little success as -before. The talker talked on, and the company had -no ears for anybody else. That was something unheard -of, outrageous! Humboldt threw himself back in -morose meditation over the ingratitude of mankind, -and shortly afterwards left. The Liberals made a -great deal of him, and counted him as one of themselves. -He was however a sycophant who aspired to -the favour of Princes and who was only happy when -basking in the sunshine of royalty. That did not -prevent him however from criticising the Court afterwards -to Varnhagen, and repeating all sorts of discreditable -stories about it. Varnhagen worked these up into -books, which I also bought. They are fearfully dear -when one thinks how few lines in large type go to the -page.” Keudell observed that they were nevertheless -indispensable for historical purposes. “Yes, in a -certain sense,” replied the Chief. “Taken individually -the stories are not worth much, but as a whole they -are an expression of the sourness of Berlin at a period<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">[p. 370]</span> -when nothing of importance was happening. At that -time everybody talked in that maliciously impotent -way. It was a society which it would be hardly -possible to realise to-day without the assistance of such -books, unless one had personal experience of it. A -great deal of outward show with nothing genuine -behind it. I remember, although I was a very little -fellow at the time, it must have been in 1821 or ’22. -Ministers were still like strange animals, regarded with -wonder as something mysterious. There was once a -large party, which was at that time called an <i lang="fr">assemblée</i>, -given at Schuckmann’s—what a monstrous huge beast -he was as a Minister! My mother also went there. I -remember it as if it were to-day. She wore long gloves -that went up to here.” (He pointed to the upper part -of his arm.) “A dress with a short waist, her hair -puffed out on both sides, and a big ostrich feather on -her head.” (The Chief left this anecdote unfinished, if -indeed there was any conclusion to it, and returned to -his former subject.) “Humboldt, however,” he continued, -“had a great many interesting things to tell -when one was alone with him, about the times of -Frederick William <abbr title="3">III.</abbr>, and in particular about his own -first sojourn in Paris. As he liked me, owing to the -attention with which I listened to him, he told me a -number of pretty anecdotes. It was the same with old -Metternich, with whom I spent a few days at Johannisberg. -Thun afterwards said to me, ‘I do not know -how you have managed to get round the old Prince, but -he has indeed looked into you as if you were a golden -goblet, and he told me if you do not come to an understanding -with him then I really don’t know what -to say.’ ‘I can explain that to you,’ I replied. ‘I -listened to all his stories, and often prompted him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">[p. 371]</span> -to continue them. That pleases the garrulous old -people.’”</p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt said that Moltke had written to Trochu -telling him how affairs stood at Orleans, and expressing -his readiness to allow one of Trochu’s officers to satisfy -himself of the truth of his statement. He would be -furnished with a safe conduct to Orleans. The Chief -said: “I know that. But he should not have done so. -They ought to find that out for themselves. Our lines -are now thin at various points, and they have also a -pigeon post. They will only imagine we are in a hurry -to get them to capitulate.”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, December 6th.</i>—In the morning I telegraphed -to Berlin and London more detailed particulars -of the victory at Orleans. Then wrote articles for the -<cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> and the German papers on the way in which -French officers interned in Germany are breaking their -parole. So long as this unworthy conduct receives -approval and encouragement from the Government of -National Defence, it is impossible for us to carry on -any negotiations with it.</p> - -<p><abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Lauer and Odo Russell dined with us to-day. -The conversation was not of particular interest. We -had, however, a delicious Palatine wine—Deidesheimer -Hofstück and Forster Kirchenstück, a noble juice, rich -in all virtues, fragrant, and fiery. <i lang="de">Aus Feuer ward der -Geist erschaffen</i>. Even Bucher, who usually drinks -only red wine, did justice to this heavenly dew from -the Haardt Hills.</p> - -<p>I afterwards wrote an article in which I politely -expressed surprise at the brazen impudence with which -Grammont reminds the world of his existence in the -Brussels <cite lang="fr">Gaulois</cite>. He who, through his unparalleled -ineptitude, has brought so much misery upon France,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">[p. 372]</span> -should, like his colleague Ollivier, have hidden himself -in silence and been glad to be forgotten. Or, inspired -by his ancient name, he should have joined the army -and fought for his country, so as in some degree to -expiate the wrong he has done it. Instead of doing -anything of the kind, however, he dares to remind the -world that he still lives, and once conducted the foreign -policy of France. “A blockhead, a coward, an impudent -fellow!” said the Chief, when he instructed me -to write this article. “You can use the strongest -expressions in dealing with him.”</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">[p. 373]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="14">XIV</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdgcent">THE PROSPECTS OUTSIDE PARIS IMPROVE</p> -</div> - -<p class="firstpara"><i>Wednesday, December 7th.</i>—At dinner the Chief related -some of his Frankfurt reminiscences. “It was possible -to get on with Thun,” he said. “He was a respectable -man. Taken altogether, Rechberg<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> was also not bad. -He was at least honourable from a personal standpoint, -although violent and irascible—one of those passionate, -fiery blondes! It is true that as an Austrian diplomat -of those days he was not able to pay too strict a regard -to truth. I remember his once receiving a despatch in -which he was instructed to maintain the best relations -with us, a second despatch being sent to him at the -same time enjoining him to follow an exactly opposite -course. I happened to call upon him, and he inadvertently -gave me the second despatch to read. I saw -immediately how matters stood and read it through. -Then handing it back to him I said: ‘I beg your -pardon, but you have given me the wrong one.’ He was -fearfully embarrassed, but I consoled him, saying I would -take no advantage of his mistake, using it merely for -my personal information.” “The third, however,—Prokesch—was -not at all to my liking. In the East he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">[p. 374]</span> -had learnt the basest forms of intrigue and had no sense -of honour or truth. A thoroughpaced liar. I remember -being once in a large company where some Austrian -assertion which was not in accordance with the truth -was being discussed. Prokesch, raising his voice in -order that I might hear him, said: ‘If that be not true, -then the Imperial and Royal Cabinet has commissioned -me to commit an act of perfidy, indeed his Imperial and -Apostolic Majesty has <em>lied</em> to me!’ and he emphasised -the word <em>lied</em>. He looked at me whilst he was speaking, -and, when he had finished, I replied, quietly: ‘Quite so, -Excellency!’ He was obviously aghast, and as he -looked round and found all eyes cast down and a deep -silence which showed approval of what I had said, he -turned away without a word and went into the dining-room -where the table was laid. He had recovered himself, -however, after dinner, and came over to me with a -full glass in his hand—but for that I should have -thought he was going to challenge me—and said, ‘Well, -let us make peace.’ ‘Certainly,’ I replied, ‘but what I -said in the other room was true, and the protocol must -be altered.’ The protocol was altered, an admission -that it had contained an untruth. A rascally fellow!”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, December 8th.</i>—Some one asked at -dinner how the question of Emperor and Empire -now stood. The Chief replied <i lang="la">inter alia</i>: “We have -had a great deal of trouble with it in the way of telegrams -and letters. But after all Holnstein has done -the greater part of the work. He is a clever fellow, -and not in the least spoilt by or prepossessed in favour -of Court manners.” Putbus asked what position he -held. “Master of the Horse. He showed himself -very willing and energetic, making the journey to -Munich and back in six days. In the present condition<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">[p. 375]</span> -of the railways that requires a great deal of good will. -Of course he has the necessary physique. Indeed, not -merely to Munich, but to Hohenschwangau,—and there -saw the King who had just been operated under chloroform -for a tumour in the gum. But King Lewis -also greatly contributed to the speedy settlement of -the matter. He received the letter immediately, and at -once gave a definite answer. He might easily have -said that he must first take some fresh air in the -mountains, and would answer in three or four days. -The Count has certainly done us a very good service in -the affair; but I really do not know how we can reward -him.” I forget how the conversation came to deal with -the terms “Swell,” “Snob,” and “Cockney,” which -were the subject of much discussion. The Chief mentioned -a certain diplomat as a “swell,” and observed: -“It is really a capital word, but we cannot translate it -into German. ‘<i lang="de">Stutzer</i>,’ perhaps, but that conveys at -the same time pompousness and self-importance. -‘Snob’ is something quite different, while it is also -very difficult for us to render properly. It denotes a -variety of attributes, but principally one-sidedness, -narrowness, slavery to local or class prejudices, philistinism. -A ‘snob’ is something like our ‘<i lang="de">Pfalbürger</i>,’ -yet not quite. It includes also a petty conception -of family interests, political narrow-mindedness, rigid -adherence to ideas and habits that have become a -second nature. There are also female snobs and very -distinguished ones. The feminine half of our Court -are snobs. Our two most exalted ladies are snobs. -The male element is not snobbish. One may also talk -of party snobs—those who in larger political issues -cannot emancipate themselves from the rules that govern -private conduct—the ‘Progressist snob.’ The cockney<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">[p. 376]</span> -again is quite another person. That term applies more -particularly to Londoners. There are people there who -have never been outside their own walls and streets, -never got away from the brick and mortar, who have -never seen life anywhere else nor travelled beyond the -sound of Bow Bells. We have also Berliners who have -never left their city. But Berlin is a small place compared -to London, or even Paris, which has also its -cockneys, although they are known by another name -there. There are hundreds of thousands in London -who have never seen anything but London. In such -great cities conceptions are formed which permeate the -whole community, and harden into the most inveterate -prejudices. Such narrow and silly ideas arise in every -great centre of population where the people have no -experience, and often not the faintest notion of how -things look elsewhere. Silliness without conceit is endurable, -but to be silly and unpractical, and at the -same time conceited, is intolerable. Country life brings -people into much closer contact with realities. They -may be less educated there, but what they know they -know thoroughly. There are, however, snobs in the -country also. (Turning to Putbus.) Just take a really -clever shot. He is convinced that he is the first man in -the world, and that sport is everything, and that those -who do not understand it are worth nothing. And -then a man who lives on his estate in a remote district, -where he is everything, and all the people depend upon -him; when he comes to the wool-market and finds that -he is not of the same importance with the townspeople -as he is at home, he gets into a bad temper, sits sulking -on his sack of wool, and takes no notice of anything -else.”</p> - -<p>At tea, Keudell said that I ought really to see, not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">[p. 377]</span> -merely those political despatches, reports and drafts -which I received from the Minister, but everything that -came in and went out. He would speak on the subject -to Abeken, who acts here as Secretary of State. I -accepted his proposal with many thanks.</p> - -<p>Bucher informed me that the Minister had made -some very interesting remarks in the drawing-room -while they were taking coffee. Prince Putbus mentioned -his desire to travel in far distant lands. “It -might be possible to manage that for you,” said the -Chief. “You might be commissioned to notify the -foundation of the German Empire to the Emperor of -China and the Tycoon of Japan.” The Minister then -discussed at length the duties of the German aristocracy, -of course with special reference to his guest.</p> - -<p>The King was faithful to his duty, but he was born -in the last century, and thus he regarded many things -from a point of view which was no longer suitable to -the times. He would allow himself to be cut to pieces -in the interests of the State, as he understood them, if -he knew that his family would be provided for. The -future king was quite different. He had not this strong -sense of duty. When he found himself in good case, -had plenty of money at his disposal, and was praised by -the newspapers, he was quite satisfied. He would -choose his Ministers in the English fashion from the -Liberal or from other parties just as things happened in -the Diet, in order to avoid trouble. In that way, however, -he would ruin everything, or at least produce a -condition of constant instability. The great nobles -ought then to intervene. They must have a sense of -the necessities of the State and recognise their mission, -which is to preserve the State from vacillation and uncertainty -in the struggles of parties, to give it a firm<span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">[p. 378]</span> -support, &c. There was no objection to their associating -with a Strousberg, but they would do better to become -bankers straight away.</p> - -<p><i>Monday, December 12th.</i>—The Chief’s indisposition -seems to have again grown worse, and it is said that he -is in a particularly bad humour. <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Lauer has been -to see him. <cite>The Times</cite> contains the following communication -which it would be impossible for us to -improve upon.<a id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">[p. 379]</span></p> -<p>An excellent letter which we must submit to the -Versailles people in the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite>.</p> - -<p>Busily engaged all the evening. Translated for the -King articles published by <cite>The Times</cite> and <cite>Daily Telegraph</cite> -warmly approving of the restoration of the -German Empire and the imperial dignity.</p> - -<p><cite>The Times</cite> article, after stating that not merely the -fact of the restoration of the German Empire but also -the manner in which it had been brought about could -only be regarded with the liveliest satisfaction, proceeds -as follows:—</p> - -<p>“The political significance of this change cannot be -placed too high. A mighty revolution has been accomplished<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">[p. 380]</span> -in Europe, and all our traditions have suddenly -become antiquated. No one can pretend to predict the -relations of the Great Powers; but it is not very -difficult to forecast in a general way the political -tendencies of the time on which we are about to enter. -There will be a powerful united Germany, presided over -by a family which represents not only its interests, but -its military fame. On the one side will be Russia, -strong and watchful as ever; but on the other side will -be France, which, whether patient under her reverses -or burning for revenge, will be for a time incapable of -playing that great part in Europe which belonged to -her even under the feebleness of the Restoration. Thus, -whereas we had formerly two strong centralised military -empires, with a distracted, unready nation between -them, which might be ground to powder whenever the -two closed to crush it, there is now a firm barrier -erected in Central Europe, and the fabric is correspondingly -strengthened. In this the policy of past generations -of English statesmen is fulfilled. They all desired -the creation of a strong Central Power, and laboured -for it in peace and war by negotiations and alliances, -now with the Empire, now with the new State which -had arisen in the North.”</p> - -<p>On the instructions of the Chief, I also wrote a -paragraph for the press to the effect that we are no -longer opposed by France, but rather by the cosmopolitan -Red Republicans, Garibaldi and Mazzini (who -are with Gambetta, and act as his counsellors), and -Polish, Spanish, and Danish adherents of that party. -The aims of these good people are indicated in a letter -from the son of the Prefect Ordinaire, who describes -himself as an officer in Garibaldi’s General Staff. This -letter, which is dated from Autun on the 16th of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">[p. 381]</span> -November, and addressed to the editor of the newspaper -<cite lang="fr">Droits de l’Homme</cite>, contains the following -passage:—</p> - -<p>“You will see from the post-mark where we are -now stationed—in one of the most priest-ridden towns -of France. It is the centre of monarchical reaction. It -looks less like a town than an enormous monastery, -huge black walls and barred windows, behind which -monks of all colours intrigue and pray in darkness and -silence for the success of the good cause. In the streets -our red shirts are constantly brushing against the black -cassock of the priest. The whole population, from the -tradespeople downwards, present a mystic aspect, and -appear as if they had been all drenched in holy water. -We are regarded here as if we had been inscribed upon -the Index, and the calumnies that are rained upon us -rival the deluge. A breach of discipline (which is -unavoidable in the case of a volunteer army) is -immediately exaggerated into a great crime. Trifles are -transformed into outrages that deserve to be punished -by death. The mountain frequently gives birth to a -mere mouse, but the bad impression produced upon the -public mind remains.</p> - -<p>“Would you believe it? The officials themselves -put difficulties in our way! They echo, I hope unwittingly, -the calumnies that are circulated against us, -and regard us with evident ill will. Indeed, our fellow -citizens are almost inclined to look upon our army -as a band of brigands. Can you imagine that the -monarchists have not in the least renounced their mischievous -endeavours, and hate us because we have sworn -never to permit the re-erection of those mountebank -stages from which kings and emperors have ordered -nations as the humour took them? Yes, we proclaim<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">[p. 382]</span> -the fact aloud that we are soldiers of the Revolution, -and I would add not of the French Revolution alone, -but of the cosmopolitan revolution. Italians, Spaniards, -Poles, and Hungarians, in gathering under the French -flag, clearly understand that they are defending the -Universal Republic. The real nature of the struggle is -now evident. It is a war between the principle of the -divine right of kings and of force, and that of popular -sovereignty, civilisation, and freedom. The fatherland -disappears before the Republic.</p> - -<p>“We are citizens of the world, and whatever may -happen we will fight to the death for the realisation of -that noble ideal of the United States of Europe, that is -to say, the fraternisation of all free peoples. The -monarchical reactionaries know that, and so they reinforce -the Prussian forces with their own legions. We -have the enemies’ bayonets in front, and treason behind -us. Why is not every old official sent about his business? -Why are not all the old generals of the Empire -ruthlessly cashiered? Cannot the Government of -National Defence see that they are being betrayed, and -that these people, with their hypocritical manœuvres, -shameful capitulations, and inexplicable retreats are preparing -for a Bonapartist restoration, or, at least, for the -accession of an Orleans or a Bourbon?</p> - -<p>“But the Government, which has undertaken the -task of delivering the contaminated soil of France from -foreign hordes, should take care. In times like the -present, and under the fearful conditions in which we -find ourselves, it is not enough to be honest. It is also -necessary to show energy, to keep a cool head, and not -to allow one’s self to be drowned in a glass of water. -Let the Cremieuxs, the Glais-Bizoins, and the Fourichons -remember the manner in which the men of 1792 and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">[p. 383]</span> -’93 acted! To-day we need a Danton, a Robespierre, -the men of the Convention! Away with you, gentlemen! -Make room for the Revolution! That alone can -save us. Great crises demand great measures!”</p> - -<p>The fatherland disappears before the Republic! -Resort to the great measures adopted by Danton and -Robespierre! Behead every one who differs from us in -religious and political affairs, and establish the guillotine -as a permanent institution. Dismiss Generals Chanzy -and Bourbaki, Faidherbe and Vinoy, Ducrot and Trochu, -and appoint private soldiers in their place. That is the -gospel preached by the son of a Prefect in the department -of Doubs, an officer of Garibaldi’s General Staff. -I wonder whether these proposals will commend themselves -to many of the Versailles people when they see -this letter in the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> one of these days?</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, December 13th.</i>—In the morning wrote -another article on the confession of faith of the cosmopolitan -Republicans. The Chief’s health is somewhat -better, only he feels very exhausted....</p> - -<p>At lunch Bucher, Hatzfeldt, and Keudell declared in -all seriousness that they thought the Chancellor would -resign. It was jestingly suggested that he would be -followed by a Ministry under Lasker, who would be “a -kind of Ollivier,” and then half in joke, half in earnest, -the possibility was discussed of our having for a -Chancellor Delbrück,—“a very clever man, but no -politician.”</p> - -<p>I regarded it as absolutely inconceivable that the -Chief could ever be allowed to resign, even if he -requested to be relieved from office. They thought, -nevertheless, that it was possible. I said that in such -circumstances they would be obliged to recall him in -less than a month. Bucher questioned whether he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">[p. 384]</span> -would come back, and said positively that so far as he -knew him, if the Count once retired he would never -take office again. He enjoyed himself far too well at -Varzin, free from business and worry of every kind. -He liked best of all to be in the woods and fields. The -Countess had once said to him: “Believe me, a turnip -interests him (Bismarck) more than all your politics.” -That statement, however, must not be too hastily -accepted, and must be limited to a temporary state of -feeling.</p> - -<p>About 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> I was summoned to the Chancellor. -He wished me to call attention to the difficulties of the -King of Holland with regard to a new Ministry, and to -point to this as the result of a purely Parliamentary -system under which the advisers of the Crown must -retire, whatever the condition of affairs may be, when a -majority of the representatives is opposed to them on -any question. He observed: “I remember when I -became Minister that there had been twenty or twenty-one -Ministries since the introduction of the constitutional -system. If the principle of Ministers retiring -before a hostile majority be too strictly enforced, far too -many politicians will be used up. Then mediocrities -will have to be taken for the post, and finally there will -be no one left who will care to devote himself to such a -trade. The moral is that either the advantages of a -Minister’s position must be increased, or the Parliamentary -system must be applied less stringently.”</p> - -<p>The Chief went out for a drive at 3 o’clock, after -Russell had again called upon him.</p> - -<p>He talked after dinner about his negotiations with -Russell and the demands of Gortschakoff. He said -amongst other things: “They do not want in London to -give an unqualified approval to the proposal that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">[p. 385]</span> -Black Sea shall be again given up to Russia and the -Turks with full sovereignty over its coast. They are -afraid of public opinion in England, and Russell returns -again and again to the idea that some equivalent might -possibly be found. He asked, for instance, whether it -would not be possible for us to join in the agreement of -the 16th of April, 1856. I replied that Germany had -no real interest in the matter. Or whether we would -bind ourselves to observe neutrality in case of a conflict -some day breaking out there. I told him I was not in -favour of a conjectural policy, such as his suggestion -involved. It would depend altogether on circumstances. -For the present we saw no reason why we should take -any part in the matter. That ought to suffice for him. -Besides I did not believe that gratitude had no place in -politics. The present Tsar had always acted in a friendly -and benevolent manner towards us. Austria, on the -other hand, was up to the present little to be trusted -and took up at times a very dubious attitude. Of -course he knew himself how far we were indebted to -England. The friendship of the Tsar was the legacy of -old relations, based partly on family connections, but -partly also on the recognition that our interests are not -opposed to his. We did not know what those relations -would be in future, and therefore it was impossible to -speak about them.... Our position would now be -different to what it was formerly. We should be the -only Power that had reason to be satisfied; we had no -call to oblige any one of whose willingness to reciprocate -our services we could not altogether feel sure.... He -returned again and again to the suggestion as to an -equivalent, and at length asked me if I could not propose -something. I spoke of making the Dardanelles -and the Black Sea free to all. That would please<span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">[p. 386]</span> -Russia, as she could then pass from the Black Sea into -the Mediterranean, and Turkey also as she could have -her friends, including the Americans, near her. It -would remove one of the reasons why the Americans -held with the Russians, namely, their desire for free -navigation in all seas. He seemed to recognise the -truth of that.” The Chancellor added: “As a matter -of fact, the Russians should not have been so modest in -their demands. They ought to have asked for more, -and then the matter of the Black Sea would have been -granted to them without any difficulty.” Turning to -Abeken the Minister said: “Write that to Bernstorff -and also to Reuss for his information. In writing to -the latter, suggest that in St. Petersburg they should -try to find something harmless that would look like an -equivalent.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned upon the four new -points of international law respecting navigation—that -no privateers should be fitted out, that goods should not -be seized so far as they were not contraband of war, -and that a blockade was only valid when effective, &c. -The Chief remarked that one of these was flagrantly -violated by the French in burning a German ship. He -concluded the conversation on this head by saying, -“We must see how we are to get rid of this rubbish.”</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, December 14th.</i>—The German party -of centralisation are still dissatisfied with the Bavarian -Treaty. Treitschke writes me from Heidelberg on the -subject in an almost despairing tone: “I quite understand -that Count Bismarck could not have acted -otherwise, but it remains a very regrettable affair all -the same. Bavaria has once more clogged our feet as -she did in 1813 in the Treaty of Ried. So long as we -have our leading statesman we can manage to move in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">[p. 387]</span> -spite of that. But how will it be later on? I cannot -feel that unquestioning confidence in the vitality of the -new Empire which I had in that of the North German -Confederation. I only hope that the nation will -prosper, owing to its own healthy vigour, in spite of -constitutional deficiencies.”</p> - -<p>The Chief and Count Holnstein dined with us. -Politics were not discussed. The Minister was very -cheerful and communicative, and spoke on a variety of -subjects. He said, amongst other things, that as a -young man he was a swift runner and a good jumper. -His sons, on the other hand, are unusually strong in the -arms. He should not care to try a fall with either of -them.</p> - -<p>The Minister then sent for the gold pen that had -been presented to him by Bissinger, the jeweller, and -mentioned that the Countess had written to him asking -about it, remarking that “doubtless it was a lie, like -the story of the baby at Meaux.” We now heard for -the first time that a new-born baby, the child of one of -the French soldiers who had fallen in one of the recent -battles, was supposed to have been smuggled into the -Chief’s bed. This was, of course, a mere newspaper -invention.</p> - -<p>The conversation afterwards turned on the deputation -from the Reichstag, which was already at Strassburg, and -would arrive here to-morrow. The Chancellor said: -“We must begin to think what we are to reply to their -address. The speech-making will be a real pleasure to -Simson. He has been already engaged in several affairs -of the kind—in the first deputation to the Hohenzollernburg -respecting the imperial dignity. He makes a good -speech, loves to talk, and thoroughly enjoys himself on -such occasions.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">[p. 388]</span></p> - -<p>Abeken observed that Löwe, the member of the -Reichstag, said that he also had taken part in such a -function, but had afterwards plenty of opportunity to -think over the matter in a foreign country.</p> - -<p>“Ah! Was he also engaged in the 1849 affair?” -asked the Chief.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Bucher; “he was President of the -Reichstag.”</p> - -<p>“But,” said the Chief, “he need not have left his -country on account of the part he took in the proposal -as to the Emperor. It must have been because of his -journey to Stuttgart, which was quite a different story.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then spoke of the Hohenzollernburg, -where each branch of the family had a special suite of -apartments; of an old castle in Pomerania, where all -members of the family of Dewitz had a right to lodgings,—it -was now reduced to a picturesque ruin, after having -long served as a stone quarry for the inhabitants of the -neighbouring country town; and afterwards of a landed -proprietor who had a singular way of raising money. -“He was always hard up, and on one occasion, when he -was in desperate straits, his woods were attacked by -caterpillars, then a fire broke out, and finally a number -of trees were blown down by a gale. He was miserable, -and thought he was bankrupt. So the timber had to be -sold, and he suddenly found himself in possession of a -lot of money, fifty or sixty thousand thalers, which set -him on his legs again. It had never occurred to him -that he could have his trees cut down.”</p> - -<p>This story led the Chief to speak of another extraordinary -gentleman, a neighbour of his. (Query, in -Varzin.) “He had ten or twelve estates, but was -always short of ready money, and frequently felt a -desire to spend some. When he wished to invite some<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">[p. 389]</span> -people to a decent lunch he usually sold an estate, so -that at length he had only one or two left. Some of his -own tenants bought one of the former lot from him for -35,000 thalers, paying him 5,000 thalers down. They -then sold a quantity of timber for shipbuilding purposes, -for 22,000 thalers, an idea which, of course, had never -occurred to him.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then referred to the Hartschiere (big -tall men, chosen for the Royal Body Guard on account -of their size) in Munich, who made a great impression -upon him owing to their bulk and general character, and -who are understood to be excellent connoisseurs of beer.</p> - -<p>Finally it was mentioned that Count Bill was the first -German to ride into Rouen. Somebody remarked that -his appearance would have convinced the inhabitants of -that city that our troops had not up to the present been -put on short rations. This led the Chancellor to speak -again of the strength of his “youngsters.” “They are -unusually strong for their age,” he said, “although they -have not learnt gymnastics—very much against my -desire, but it is not considered the proper thing for the -sons of a diplomatist.”</p> - -<p>While enjoying his after dinner cigar the Chief asked -if the members of his staff were smokers. Yes, every -one of them, Abeken replied. “Well, then,” said the -minister, “Engel must divide the Hamburg cigars -amongst them. I have received so many that if the war -were to last for twelve months I should still bring some -home with me.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, December 15th.</i>—Count Frankenberg -and Count Lehndorff joined us at dinner, Prince Pless -coming in half an hour later. The Chief was in high -spirits and very talkative. The conversation at first -turned on the question of the day, that is to say, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">[p. 390]</span> -commencement of the bombardment. The Minister -said it might be expected within the next eight or ten -days. It would possibly not be very successful during -the first weeks, as the Parisians had had time to take -precautions against it. Frankenberg said that in Berlin, -and particularly in the Reichstag, no subject was so -much discussed as the reasons why the bombardment -had been postponed up to the present. Everything -else gave way to that. The Chief replied; “Yes, but -now that Roon has taken the matter in hand something -will be done. A thousand ammunition waggons with -the necessary teams are on their way here, and it is -said that some of the new mortars have arrived. Now -that Roon has taken it up something will at last be done.”</p> - -<p>The manner in which the restoration of the imperial -dignity in Germany had been brought before the -Reichstag was then discussed, and Frankenberg as well -as Prince Pless were of opinion that it might have been -better managed. The Conservatives had not been -informed beforehand, and the statement was actually -made when they were sitting at lunch. To all appearance -Windthorst was not wrong when, with his usual -dexterity in seizing his opportunities, he remarked that -he had expected more sympathy from the Assembly.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said the Chief, “there ought to have been a -better stage manager for the farce. It should have -had a more effective <i lang="fr">mise-en-scène</i>,—but Delbrück -does not understand that sort of thing. Some one -should have got up to express his dissatisfaction with -the Bavarian Treaties, which lacked this, that, and the -other. Then he should have said: ‘If, however, an -equivalent were found to compensate for these defects, -something in which the unity of the nation would find -expression, that would be different,’—and then the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">[p. 391]</span> -Emperor should have been brought forward.”... -“Moreover, the Emperor is more important than many -people think. I could not tell them. (that is to say, the -Princes) what it all means—if I had, I certainly should -not have succeeded.... I admit that the Bavarian -Treaty has defects and deficiencies. That is, however, -easily said when one is not responsible. How would it -have been, then, if I had refused to make concessions -and no treaty had been concluded? It is impossible to -conceive all the difficulties that would have resulted -from such a failure, and for that reason I was in mortal -anxiety over the easy unconcern of centralising gentlemen -in the Diet.”... “Last night, after a long interval, -I had again a couple of hours of good deep sleep. At -first I could not get off to sleep, worrying and pondering -over all sorts of things. Then suddenly I saw -Varzin before me, quite distinctly to the smallest detail -like a big picture, with all the colours even—green -trees, the sunshine on the stems and a blue sky above -it all. I saw each single tree. I tried to get rid of it, -but it came back and tormented me, and at length -when it faded away it was replaced by other pictures, -documents, notes, despatches, until at last towards -morning I fell asleep.”</p> - -<p>Whilst Bucher and myself were alone at tea, he -told me that Delbrück, who is the “Liberal Minister,” -holds with the Liberals and is “thinking of the -future.” “At an early stage of his career the Chief -offered him the Ministry of Commerce. Delbrück -declined it, saying: ‘Yes, Excellency, but you may not -remain long yourself, and I should prefer not to accept -it. What should I do if you retired? I should be -obliged to go too and renounce official life, and of -course that would not do.’”</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">[p. 392]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="15">XV</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">CHAUDORDY AND THE TRUTH—OFFICERS OF BAD FAITH—FRENCH -GARBLING—THE CROWN PRINCE DINES WITH -THE CHIEF.</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara"><i>Friday, December 16th.</i>—In the morning I wrote -several articles on <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> de Chaudordy’s circular as to the -barbarity with which we are alleged to conduct the war. -They were to the following effect. In addition to the -calumnies that have been circulated for months past by -the French press with the object of exciting public -opinion against us, a document has now been issued by -the Provisional Government itself for the purpose of prejudicing -foreign Courts and Cabinets by means of garbled -and exaggerated accounts of our conduct in the present -war. An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at -Tours, <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> de Chaudordy, impeaches us in a circular to -the neutral Powers. Let us consider the main points in -his statement and see how the matter stands in reality, -and who can be justly charged with barbarous methods -of warfare, ourselves or the French.</p> - -<p>He asserts that we make excessive requisitions, and -abuse our power in the occupied towns and districts to -extort impossible contributions. We are further stated -to have seized private property, and to have cruelly -burnt down towns and villages, whose inhabitants have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">[p. 393]</span> -offered resistance, or have in any way assisted in the -defence of their country. Our accuser says: “Commanding -officers have ordered a town to be plundered and -burnt down as a punishment for the acts of individual -citizens whose sole crime consisted in resisting the invaders, -thus misusing the inexorable discipline imposed -upon their troops. Every house in which a franctireur -had been concealed, or received a meal, has been burnt -down. How can this be reconciled with respect for -private property?” The circular states that in firing upon -open towns we have introduced a procedure hitherto unexampled -in war. Finally, in addition to all our other -cruelties, we take hostages with us on railway journeys -to secure ourselves against the removal of the rails and -other injuries and dangers.</p> - -<p>In reply to these charges we offer the following observations. -If <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> de Chaudordy understood anything -about war, he would not complain of the sacrifices which -our operations have imposed upon the French people, -but would, on the contrary, be surprised at our relative -moderation. Moreover, the German troops respect -private property everywhere, although they can certainly -not be expected, after long marches and severe fighting, -and after enduring cold and hunger, to refrain from -securing as comfortable quarters as possible, or from demanding, -or, if the inhabitants have fled, helping themselves -to absolute necessaries such as food, drink, firing, -&c. Moreover, instead of seizing private property, as <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> -de Chaudordy asserts, our soldiers have frequently done -the reverse, and at the risk of their own lives, rescued -for the owners works of art and other valuables which -were endangered by the fire of the French guns. We -have burnt down villages, but does our accuser know -nothing of our reasons for doing so? Is he not aware<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">[p. 394]</span> -that in those villages franctireurs have treacherously fired -upon our people, and that the inhabitants have given -every possible assistance to the murderers? Has he -heard nothing of the franctireurs who recently left -Fontaines, and who boldly stated that the object of their -march was to inspect the houses in the neighbourhood -which were worth pillaging? Can he bring forward a -single well-established case of outrage committed by our -soldiers such as those of which the Turcos and French -guerillas have been guilty? Have our troops cut off the -noses or ears of their wounded or dead opponents, as the -French did at Coulours on the 30th of November? On -the 11th of December, when 800 German prisoners should -have been brought into Lille, only 200 of them actually -arrived. Many of these were severely wounded, yet instead -of affording them succour, the people of the town -pelted them with snowballs, and shouted to the soldiers -to bayonet them. The frequency with which the French -have fired at the bearers of flags of truce is something -unheard of. There is good evidence for the truth of the -following incident, however incredible it may appear. -On the 2nd of December, a German sergeant named -Steinmetz, at the express desire of an officer of the -Garibaldian troops, wrote a letter to his lieutenant in -Mirecourt, stating that if our side took reprisals against -Vittel or other places in the neighbourhood, the ears of -fourteen Prussian prisoners, who had fallen into the -hands of the guerillas in a surprise attack, would be -cut off.</p> - -<p>In many instances we have not treated those -volunteers as soldiers, but that was only in cases where -they did not act as soldiers, but on the contrary, -followed the principles recommended by the Prefect, -Luce Villiard, in the address issued by him through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">[p. 395]</span> -the Maires to the peasants of the Côte d’Or department. -M. Villiard said: “The country does not demand -that you should collect in large masses and openly -oppose the enemy. It expects that every morning three -or four resolute men amongst you shall leave your villages -and select some good natural position from which you -can fire upon the Prussians without risk. You must -above all direct your fire against the enemy’s cavalry, -and bring their horses in to the chief district towns. I -will distribute premiums amongst you, and your heroic -deeds shall be published in all the newspapers of the -Provinces as well as in the Official Journal.”</p> - -<p>We have bombarded open cities, such as Orleans, but -is <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> de Chaudordy not aware that they were occupied -by the enemy? And has he forgotten that the French -bombarded the open towns of Saarbrücken and Kehl? -Finally, as to the hostages who were obliged to accompany -the railway trains, they were taken not to serve as -a hindrance to French heroism, but as a precaution -against treacherous crime. The railway does not convey -merely soldiers, arms, ammunition and other war -material, against which it may be allowable to use -violent measures: it also conveys great numbers of -wounded, doctors, hospital attendants and other perfectly -harmless persons. Is a peasant or a franctireur -to be allowed to endanger hundreds of those lives by -removing a rail or laying a stone upon the line? Let -the French see that the security of the railway trains is -no longer threatened and the journeys made by those -hostages will be merely outings, or our people may even -be able to forgo such precautionary measures. We -forbear to deal any further with the charges of <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> de -Chaudordy. The European Cabinets are aware of the -humane sentiments which inspire German methods of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">[p. 396]</span> -warfare, and they will easily be able to form a just -estimate of the value of these charges. War, moreover, -is and remains war, and it cannot be waged with velvet -gloves. We should perhaps less frequently employ the -iron gloves if the Government of National Defence had -not declared a people’s war, which invariably leads to -greater harshness than a conflict between regular -armies.</p> - -<p>Bohlen, who is still unwell, Hatzfeldt, who is indisposed, -and Keudell, who received a command to dine -with the King, were absent from dinner. Count -Holnstein and Prince Putbus were present as guests. -The first subject to be touched upon was the Bavarian -Treaty, which Holnstein expected would be approved of -by the second Bavarian Chamber, in which a two-thirds -majority was necessary. It was already known that -there were only some forty members opposed to it. It -was also practically certain that it would not be rejected -by the Upper House.</p> - -<p>“Thuengen will doubtless be in favour of it,” -observed the Chief.</p> - -<p>“I believe so,” replied Holnstein, “as he also voted -in favour of joining in the war.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said the Minister, “he is one of the honest -Particularists; but there are some who are not honest -and who have other objects in view.”</p> - -<p>“Certainly,” added Holnstein. “Some of the patriots -showed that quite clearly. They omitted the words, -‘For King and Country,’ retaining only ‘<span lang="de">Mit Gott.</span>’”</p> - -<p>Putbus then referred to the approaching holidays, -and said it would be a good idea to give the people in the -hospital a Christmas tree. A collection had been started -for that purpose, and 2,500 francs had already been -received. “Pless and I put down our names,” he said.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">[p. 397]</span> -“The subscription list was then laid before the Grand -Duke of Weimar, and he gave 300 francs; and the -Coburger, who was then attacked, gave 200. He would -certainly have been glad to get out of it. He should at -least have contrived not to give more than Weimar or -less than Pless.” “It must certainly have been very -disagreeable to him,” said the Minister. Putbus: “But -why? He is a rich man!” The Chief: “Very rich!” -Putbus: “Why, certainly, he has come in for an enormous -forest which is worth over a million.” The Chief: -“The Crown Princess secured that for him through all -sorts of stratagems, which she also tried on with me. -But I have done with him. He shall never get my signature -again.” Putbus: “Besides, 200 francs! He ought -not to feel it so much. It is not much more than fifty -thalers. But it is just like him!” Putbus then said -they intended to submit the list of subscriptions to his -Majesty, whereupon the Chief remarked: “Then you -will also allow me to join.” Putbus afterwards added that -Weimar had “not shown himself over-generous in other -matters. He established an ambulance for his regiment, -where a couple of officers are now being cared for. He -demanded payment for their keep from the Commandant, -which of course only the doctors are entitled -to do.” “But surely they have not given it to him?” -said the Chief. Putbus: “Oh, yes; they have though, -but not without making some remarks on the subject -that led to a great deal of bad language on his part.”</p> - -<p>It was then mentioned that a French balloon had -fallen down near Wetzlar and that Ducrot was said to -be in it. “I suppose he will be shot then,” said Putbus. -“No,” replied the Chief. “The common jail. Ten -years’ penal servitude. If he is brought before a court-martial -nothing will happen to him. But a Council of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">[p. 398]</span> -Honour would certainly condemn him. So I have been -told by officers.”</p> - -<p>“Any other news on military matters?” asked -Putbus.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps at the General Staff,” replied the Minister, -“but we know nothing here. We only get such information -as can be obtained by dint of begging, and that -is little enough.”</p> - -<p>Later on it was stated that the Government of -National Defence was thinking of contracting a new -loan. Turning to me, the Minister said: “It may be -useful to call attention in the press to the danger -investors run in lending money to this Government. It -would be well to say that the loans made to the present -Government might possibly not be recognised by that -with which we concluded peace, and that we might even -make that one of the conditions of the peace. That -should be sent to the English and Belgian press in -particular.”</p> - -<p>Löwinsohn mentioned to me in the evening that a -Conservative of high position, from whom he sometimes -obtained information, had said to him that his friends -were anxious to know what the King was going to say -to the deputation from the Reichstag. It was understood -that he was not pleased at their coming, as only -the first Reichstag which would represent all Germany, -and not the North German Reichstag, could tender him -the imperial crown. (Doubtless the King is thinking -less of the Reichstag, which cannot proffer him the -imperial dignity independently, but only in concert with -the Princes in the name of the whole people, than of -the Princes themselves, all of whom will not as yet have -replied to the proposal of the King of Bavaria.) -Furthermore, this Conservative of high position would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">[p. 399]</span> -prefer to see the King become Emperor of Prussia. (A -matter of taste.) Under the other arrangement Prussia -will be lost in Germany, and that arouses scruples in his -mind. Löwinsohn also reported that the Crown Prince -is very indignant at certain correspondents who compared -Châteaudun to Pompeii, and drew lively pictures -of the devastation of the country owing to the war. I -suggested to Löwinsohn that he should deal with the -subject of the new French loan and that of “Chaudordy -and Garibaldi’s ear-clippers” in the <cite lang="fr">Indépendance -Belge</cite>, with which he is connected. He promised to do -this to-morrow.</p> - -<p>An article for the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite> on the new -French loan was accordingly despatched in the following -form:—</p> - -<p>“Yet another loan! With wicked unconcern the -gentlemen who now preside over the fortunes of France -and who are plunging her deeper and deeper into moral -and material ruin, are also trying to exploit foreign -countries. This was to be anticipated for some time -past, and we are therefore not surprised at it. We -would, however, call the attention of the financial world -to the very obvious dangers accompanying the advantages -which will be offered to them. We will indicate -there in a few words, in order to make the matter clear. -High interest and a low rate of issue may be very -tempting. But, on the other hand, the Government -which makes this loan is recognised neither by the -whole of France nor by a single European Power. -Moreover, it should be remembered that we have already -stated our intention that measures would be taken to -prevent the repayment of certain loans which French -municipalities tried to raise for the purposes of the war. -We imagine that is a sufficient hint that the same<span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">[p. 400]</span> -principle might be applied on a larger scale. The -French Government which concludes peace with Prussia -and her allies (and that will presumably not be the -present Government) will in all probability be bound, -among other conditions of peace, not to recognise as -binding the engagements for payment of interest and -redemption of loans made by <abbr title="Messieurs" lang="fr">MM.</abbr> Gambetta and Favre. -The Government referred to will unquestionably have -the right to do this, as those gentlemen, although it is -true they speak in the name of France, have received -no mission and no authority from the country. People -should therefore be on their guard.”</p> - -<p>Wollmann came up to me after 10 o’clock, and said -that the deputation from the Reichstag had arrived. -Their chairman, Simson, was now with the Chief, who -would doubtless inform him of the King’s disinclination -to receive them before all the Princes had sent letters -declaring their approval. These letters would go first to -the King of Bavaria, who would afterwards send them to -our King. All the Princes had already telegraphed -their approval—only Lippe still appeared to entertain -scruples. Probably in consequence of this postponement -it will be necessary for a few members of the deputation -to fall ill.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, December 17th.</i>—In the course of the -forenoon I wrote a second paragraph on the new French -loan.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon wrote another article on the ever-increasing -instances of French officers breaking their -parole and absconding from the places where they were -interned, and returning to France to take service against -us again. Over fifty of these cases have occurred up to -the present. They include officers of all ranks, and even -three generals—namely, Ducrot, Cambriel, and Barral.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">[p. 401]</span> -After the battle of Sedan we could have rendered the -army that was shut up in that fortress harmless by -destroying it. Humanity, however, and faith in their -pledged word induced us to forgo that measure. The -capitulation was granted, and we were justified in considering -that all the officers had agreed to its terms and -were prepared to fulfil the conditions which it imposed. -If that was not the case we ought to have been informed -of the fact. We should then have treated those exceptions -in an exceptional way, that is to say, not accorded -to the officers in question the same treatment that was -granted to the others. In other words, they would not -have been allowed the liberty which they have now -abused in such a disgraceful manner. It is true that -the great majority of the captive officers have kept -their word, and one might therefore have dismissed the -matter with a shrug of the shoulders. But the affair -assumes another aspect when the French Provisional -Government approves this breach of their pledged word -by reappointing such officers to the regiments that are -opposing us in the field. Has there been a single case -in which one of these deserters was refused readmission -to the ranks of the French army? Or have any French -officers protested against the readmission of such comrades -into their corps? It is, therefore, not the -Government alone, but also the officers of France, who -consider this disgraceful conduct to be correct. The -consequence, however, will be that the German Governments -will feel bound in duty to consider whether the -alleviation of their imprisonment hitherto accorded to -French officers is consistent with the interests of Germany. -And further, we must ask ourselves the question -whether we shall be justified in placing confidence in -any of the promises of the present French Government<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">[p. 402]</span> -when it wants to treat with Germany, without material -guarantees and pledges.</p> - -<p>We were joined at dinner by Herr Arnim-Krochlendorff, -a brother-in-law of the Chief, a gentleman of -energetic aspect, and apparently a little over fifty. The -Minister was in very good humour, but the conversation -this time was not particularly interesting. It chiefly -turned upon the bombardment, and the attitude assumed -towards that question by a certain party at headquarters. -Arnim related that when Grävenitz spoke to the Crown -Prince on the matter, the latter exclaimed: “Impossible! -nothing to be done; it would be to no purpose,” and -when Grävenitz ventured to argue the point, the Prince -declared: “Well, then, if you know better, do it! -Bombard it yourself!” To which Grävenitz replied: -“Your Royal Highness, I can only fire a <i lang="fr">feu de joie</i> -(<i lang="de">ich kann nur Victoria schiessen</i>).” The Chief remarked: -“That sounds very equivocal.” The Crown -Prince told me the same thing, viz., if I thought the -bombardment would be successful, I had better take -over the command. I replied that I should like to very -much—for twenty-four hours, but not longer. He then -added in French, doubtless on account of the servants: -“For I do not understand anything about it, although I -believe I know as much as he does, for he has no great -knowledge of these matters.”</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, December 18th.</i>—At 2 o’clock the Chief -drove off to the Prefecture for the purpose of introducing -the deputation of the Reichstag to the King. The -Princes residing in Versailles were in attendance upon his -Majesty. After 2 o’clock the King, accompanied by the -Heir Apparent and Princes Charles and Adalbert, entered -the reception room where the other Princes, the Chancellor -of the Confederation, and the Generals grouped themselves<span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">[p. 403]</span> -around him. Among those present were the Grand Dukes -of Baden, Oldenburg and Weimar, the Dukes of Coburg -and Meiningen, the three Hereditary Grand Dukes, Prince -William of Würtemberg and a number of other princely -personages. Simson delivered his address to the King, -who answered very much in the sense that had been -anticipated. A dinner of eighty covers, which was -given at 5 o’clock, brought the ceremony to a close.</p> - -<p>On our way back from the park Wollmann told me -that the Chief had recently written to the King -requesting to be permitted to take part in the councils -of war. The answer, however, was that he had always -been called to join in councils of a political nature, as in -1866, that a similar course would also be followed in -future, and that he ought to be satisfied with that. -(This story is probably not quite correct, for Wollmann -is incapable of being absolutely accurate.)</p> - -<p><i>Monday, December 19th.</i>—I again wrote calling -attention to the international revolution which arrays -its guerilla bands and heroes of the barricades against -us. The article was to the following effect. We understood -at first that we were only fighting with France, and -that was actually the case up to Sedan. After the 4th -of September another power rose up against us, namely -the universal Republic, an international association of -cosmopolitan enthusiasts who dream of the United -States of Europe, &c.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon I took a walk in the park, in the -course of which I twice met the Chief driving with Simson, -the President of the Reichstag. The Minister was -invited to dine with the Crown Prince at 7 o’clock, but -first joined our table for half an hour. He spoke of his -drive with Simson: “The last time he was here was -after the July Revolution in 1830. I thought he would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">[p. 404]</span> -be interested in the park and the beautiful views, but he -showed no sign of it. It would appear that he has no -feeling for landscape beauty. There are many people of -that kind. So far as I am aware, there are no Jewish -landscape painters, indeed no Jewish painters at all.” -Some one mentioned the names of Meyerheim and Bendemann. -“Yes,” the Chief replied, “Meyerheim; but Bendemann -had only Jewish grandparents. There are plenty of -Jewish composers—Mendelssohn, Halevy—but painters! -It is true that the Jew paints, but only when he is not -obliged to earn his bread thereby.”</p> - -<p>Abeken alluded to the sermon which Rogge preached -yesterday in the palace church, and said that he had -made too much of the Reichstag deputation. He then -added some slighting remarks about the Reichstag in -general. The Chief replied: “I am not at all of that -opinion—not in the least. They have just voted us -another hundred millions, and in spite of their doctrinaire -views they have adopted the Versailles treaties, -which must have cost many of them a hard struggle. We -ought to place that, at least, to their credit.”</p> - -<p>Abeken then talked about the events at Ems which -preceded the outbreak of the war, and related that on -one occasion, after a certain despatch had been sent off, -the King said, “Well, he” (Bismarck) “will be satisfied -with us now!” And Abeken added, “I believe you -were.” “Well,” replied the Chancellor, laughing, “you -may easily be mistaken. That is to say I was quite -satisfied with you. But not quite as much with our -Most Gracious, or rather not at all. He ought to have -acted in a more dignified way—and more resolutely.” -“I remember,” he continued, “how I received the news -at Varzin. I had gone out, and on my return the first -telegram had been delivered. As I started on my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">[p. 405]</span> -journey I had to pass our pastor’s house at Wussow. -He was standing at his gate and saluted me. I said -nothing, but made a thrust in the air—thus” (as if he -were making a thrust with a sword). “He understood -me, and I drove on.” The Minister then gave some -particulars of the wavering and hesitation that went on -up to a certain incident, which altered the complexion of -things, and was followed by the declaration of war. “I -expected to find another telegram in Berlin answering -mine, but it had not arrived. In the meantime I invited -Moltke and Roon to dine with me that evening, and to -talk over the situation, which seemed to me to be growing -more and more unsatisfactory. Whilst we were -dining, another long telegram was brought in. As I -read it to them—it must have been about two hundred -words—they were both actually terrified, and Moltke’s -whole being suddenly changed. He seemed to be quite -old and infirm. It looked as if our Most Gracious might -knuckle under after all. I asked him (Moltke) if, as things -stood, we might hope to be victorious. On his replying -in the affirmative, I said, ‘Wait a minute!’ and seating -myself at a small table I boiled down those two hundred -words to about twenty, but without otherwise altering -or adding anything. It was Abeken’s telegram, yet something -different—shorter, more determined, less dubious. -I then handed it over to them, and asked, ‘Well, how -does that do now?’ ‘Yes,’ they said, ‘it will do in -that form.’ And Moltke immediately became quite -young and fresh again. He had got his war, his trade. -And the thing really succeeded. The French were fearfully -angry at the condensed telegram as it appeared in -the newspapers, and a couple of days later they declared -war against us.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then wandered back to Pomerania,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">[p. 406]</span> -and if I am not mistaken to Varzin, where the Chief -had, he said, taken much interest in a Piedmontese who -had remained behind after the great French wars. This -man had raised himself to a position of consequence, and -although originally a Catholic, had actually become a -vestryman. The Minister mentioned other people who -had settled and prospered in places where they had -been accidentally left behind. There were also Italians -taken as prisoners of war to a district in Further Pomerania, -where they remained and founded families whose -marked features still distinguish them from their -neighbours.</p> - -<p>The Minister did not return from the Crown Prince’s -until past ten o’clock, and we then heard that the Crown -Prince was coming to dine with us on the following -evening.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, December 20th.</i>—On the instructions of -the Chief I wrote two articles for circulation in -Germany.</p> - -<p>The first was as follows: “We have already found -it necessary on several occasions to correct a misunderstanding -or an intentional garbling of the words -addressed by King William to the French people on -the 11th of August last. We are now once more confronted -with the same attempt to falsify history, and -to our surprise in a publication by an otherwise respectable -French historian. In a pamphlet entitled <cite lang="fr">La -France et la Prusse devant l’Europe</cite>, <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> d’Haussonville -puts forward an assertion which does little credit -to his love of truth, or let us say his scientific accuracy. -The whole pamphlet is shallow and superficial. It is -full of exaggerations and errors, and of assertions that -have no more value than mere baseless rumours. Of -the gross blunders of the writer, who is obviously<span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">[p. 407]</span> -blinded by patriotic passion, we will only mention that, -according to him, King William was on the throne -during the Crimean War. But apart from this and -other mistakes, we have here only to deal with his -attempt to garble the proclamation issued to the French -in August last, which, it may be observed, was written -in French as well as in German, so that a misunderstanding -would appear to be out of the question. -According to <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> d’Haussonville the King said: ‘I am -only waging war against the Emperor and not at all -against France.’ (<i lang="fr">Je ne fais la guerre qu’à l’Empereur, -et nullement à la France.</i>) As a matter of fact, -however, the document in question says: ‘The German -nation, which desired and still desires to live in peace -with France, having been attacked at sea and on land -by the Emperor Napoleon, I have taken the command -of the German armies for the purpose of repelling this -aggression. Owing to the course taken by the military -operations, I have been led to cross the French frontier. -I wage war against the soldiers and not against the -citizens of France.’ (<i lang="fr">L’Empereur Napoléon ayant -attaqué par terre et par mer la nation allemande, qui -désirait et désire encore vivre en paix avec le peuple -français, j’ai pris le commandement des armées allemandes -pour repousser l’agression, et j’ai été amené -par les événements militaires à passer les frontières de -la France. Je fais la guerre aux soldats, et non aux -citoyens français.</i>) The next sentence excludes all -possibility of mistake as to the meaning of the foregoing -statement: ‘They (the French citizens) will -accordingly continue to enjoy complete security of -person and property so long as they themselves do not -deprive me of the right to accord them my protection -by acts of hostility against the German troops.’ (<i lang="fr">Ceux-ci<span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">[p. 408]</span> -continueront, par conséquent, à jouir d’une complète -sécurité pour leur personnes et leur biens, aussi longtemps -qu’ils ne me priveront eux-mêmes par des entreprises -hostiles contre les troupes allemandes du droit -de leur accorder ma protection.</i>) There is, in our -opinion, a very obvious difference between d’Haussonville’s -quotation and the original proclamation, and no -obscurity can possibly be discovered in the latter to -excuse a mistake.”</p> - -<p>The second item ran thus: “The Delegation from -the Government of National Defence, which is at present -in Bordeaux, has satisfied itself that further resistance -to the German forces is useless, and it would, with the -approval even of <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Gambetta, be prepared to conclude -peace on the basis of the demands put forward by -Germany. It is understood, however, that General -Trochu has decided to continue the war. The Delegation -entered into an engagement from Tours with -General Trochu not to negotiate for peace without his -consent. According to other reports General Trochu -has had provisions for several months stored in the -fortress of Mont Valérien, so that he may fall back upon -that position after Paris has had to capitulate with a -sufficient force to exercise influence upon the fate of -France after the conclusion of peace. His object, it is -believed, is to promote the interests of the Orleans -family, of which General Trochu is understood to be an -adherent.”</p> - -<p>On my taking these paragraphs into the office to -have them sent off, Keudell told me the Chief had -agreed that henceforth all State papers received and -despatched should be shown to me if I asked for them.</p> - -<p>The Crown Prince and his aide-de-camp arrived -shortly after six o’clock. The former had on his shoulder<span class="pagenum" id="Page_409">[p. 409]</span> -straps the badges of his new military rank as field-marshal. -He sat at the head of the table, with the Chief -on his right and Abeken on his left. After the soup -the conversation first turned on the subject which I had -this morning worked up for the press, namely, that -according to a communication from Israel, the secretary -of Laurier, who acts as agent for the Provisional Government -in London, Gambetta no longer believed in the -possibility of successful resistance, and was disposed to -conclude peace on the basis of our demands. Trochu -was the only member of the Government who wished to -continue the struggle, but on his undertaking the defence -of Paris, the others had bound themselves to act in -concert with him in this respect.</p> - -<p>The Chancellor observed: “He is understood to have -had Mont Valérien provisioned for two months, so that -he may fall back upon that position with the regular -troops when it becomes necessary to surrender the city—probably -in order to influence the conclusion of peace.” -He then continued: “Indeed, I believe that France will -break up into several pieces—the country is already split -up into parties. There are great differences of opinion -between the different districts. Legitimists in Brittany, -Red Republicans in the south, and Moderate Republicans -elsewhere, while the regular army is still for the -Emperor, or at least the majority of the officers are. It -is possible that each section will follow its own convictions, -one being Republican, another Bourbon, and a -third Orleanist, according to the party that happens to -have the most adherents, and then Napoleon’s people—tetrarchies -of Judea, Galilee, &c.”</p> - -<p>The Crown Prince said it was believed that Paris -must have a subterranean communication with the outer -world. The Chief thought so too, and added: “But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">[p. 410]</span> -they cannot get provisions in that way, although, of -course, they can receive news. I have been thinking -whether it might not be possible to flood the catacombs -from the Seine, and thus inundate the lower parts of the -city. Of course the catacombs go under the Seine.”</p> - -<p>The Chief then said that if Paris could be taken -now it would produce a good effect upon public opinion -in Bavaria, whence the reports were again unsatisfactory. -Bray was not to be trusted, had not the interests of -Germany at heart, inclined to the Ultramontanes, had a -Neapolitan wife, felt happiest in his memories of Vienna, -where he lived for a long time, and seemed disposed to -tack about again. “The King is, after all, the best of -them all in the upper circles,” said the Chancellor, “but -he seems to be in bad health and eccentric, and nobody -knows what may yet happen.” “Yes, indeed,” said the -Crown Prince. “How bright and handsome he was -formerly—a little too slight, but otherwise the very -ideal of a young man. Now his complexion is yellow, -and he looks old. I was quite shocked when I saw him.” -“The last time I saw him,” said the Chancellor, -“was at his mother’s at Nymphenburg, in 1863, -when the Congress of Princes was being held. -Even at that time he had a strange look in his eyes. -I remember that, when dining, he on one occasion -drank no wine, and on another took eight or ten glasses—not -at intervals, but hastily, one glass after another, -at one draught, so that the servant scarcely liked to -keep on filling his glass.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned on the Bavarian -Prince Charles, who was said to be strongly anti-Prussian, -but too old and feeble to be very dangerous -to the cause of German unity. Some one remarked: -“Nature has very little to do with him as it is.” “That<span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">[p. 411]</span> -reminds me of old Count Adlerberg,” said the Minister, -“who was also mostly artificial—hair, teeth, calves, and -one eye. When he wanted to get up in the morning all -his best parts lay on chairs and tables near the bed. -You remember the newly-married man in the <cite lang="de">Fliegende -Blätter</cite> who watched his bride take herself to pieces, lay -her hair on the toilet table, her teeth on the chimney-piece, -and other fragments elsewhere, and then exclaimed, -‘But what remains for me?’” Moreover, -Adlerberg, he went on to say, was a terrible bore, and -it was owing to him that Countess Bismarck once fainted -at a diplomatic dinner where she was seated between -him and Stieglitz. “She always faints when she is exceptionally -bored, and for that reason I never take her -with me to diplomatic dinners.” “That is a pretty -compliment for the diplomats,” observed the Crown -Prince.</p> - -<p>The Chief then related that one evening, not long -ago, the sentry on guard at the Crown Prince’s -quarters did not want to let him go in, and only -agreed to do so on his addressing him in Polish. “A -few days ago I also tried to talk Polish with the soldiers -in the hospital, and they brightened up wonderfully on -hearing a gentleman speak their mother tongue. It is a -pity that my vocabulary was exhausted. It would, -perhaps, be a good thing if their commander-in-chief -could speak to them.” “There you are, Bismarck, -coming back to the old story,” said the Crown Prince, -smiling. “No, I don’t like Polish and I won’t learn it. -I do not like the people.” “But, your Royal Highness, -they are, after all, good soldiers and honest fellows when -they have been taught to wash themselves and not to -pilfer.” The Crown Prince: “Yes, but when they cast -off the soldier’s tunic they are just what they were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">[p. 412]</span> -before, and at bottom they are and still remain hostile -to us.” The Chief: “As to their hostility, that only -applies to the nobles and their labourers, and all that -class. A noble, who has nothing himself, feeds a crowd -of people, servants of all sorts, who also belong to the -minor nobility, although they act as his domestics, overseers, -and clerks. These stand by him when he rises in -rebellion, and also the Komorniks, or day labourers.... -The independent peasantry does not join them, however, -even when egged on by the priests, who are always -against us. We have seen that in Posen, when the -Polish regiments had to be removed merely because -they were too cruel to their own fellow countrymen.... -I remember at our place in Pomerania there was a -market, attended, on one occasion, by a number of -Kassubes (Pomeranian Poles). A quarrel broke out -between one of them and a German, who refused to sell -him a cow because he was a Pole. The Kassube was -mortally offended, and shouted out: ‘You say I’m a -Polack. No, I’m just as much a Prussack as yourself;’ -and then, as other Germans and Poles joined in, it soon -developed into a beautiful free fight.”</p> - -<p>The Chief then added that the Great Elector spoke -Polish as well as German, and that his successors also -understood that language. Frederick the Great was -the first who did not learn it, but then he also spoke -better French than German. “That may be,” said the -Crown Prince, “but I am not going to learn Polish. I -do not like it. They must learn German.” With this -remark the subject was allowed to drop.</p> - -<p>At dessert the Crown Prince, after asking if he -might smoke a pipe, pulled out a short one with a porcelain -bowl, on which an eagle was painted, while the -rest of us lit our cigars.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">[p. 413]</span></p> - -<p>After dinner the Crown Prince and the Minister -retired with the Councillors to the drawing-room, where -they took coffee. Later on we were all sent for, and -formally presented to the future Emperor by the Chief. -We had to wait for about a quarter of an hour while -the Chancellor was deep in conversation with the Crown -Prince. His august guest stood in the corner near one -of the windows. The Chief spoke to him in a low tone, -with his eyes mostly cast down, while the Crown Prince -listened with a serious and almost sullen look.</p> - -<p>After the presentation I returned to the bureau, -where I read the diplomatic reports and drafts of the -last few days, amongst others the draft of the King’s -reply to the Reichstag deputation. This had been -prepared by Abeken, and greatly altered by the Chief. -Then an instruction from the Minister to the Foreign -Office to the effect that if the <cite lang="de">Provinzial-Correspondenz</cite> -should again contain a commendation of Gambetta’s -energy or anything of that kind, every possible means -should be immediately employed to prevent the publication. -Also a report from Prince Reuss to the effect -that Gortschakoff had replied in a negative sense to a -sentimental communication of Gabriac’s, adding that all -the Russian Cabinet could do for the French at present -was to act as letter-carrier in conveying their wishes to -the Prussian Government.</p> - -<p>At tea Hatzfeldt told me he had been trying to decipher -a Dutch report from Van Zuylen, which had -been brought out with Washburne’s mail, and had -succeeded, though there were still a few doubtful points. -He then showed it to me, and together we contrived to -puzzle out some more of it. The despatch seems to be -based throughout on good information, and to give a -faithful account of the situation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">[p. 414]</span></p> - -<p>At 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> summoned to the Chief, who wants the -<cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> to mention Gambetta’s inclination to forgo -further resistance and Trochu’s plan respecting Mont -Valérien.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, December 21st.</i>—At dinner the Chief -spoke of his great-grandfather, who, if I rightly understood -him, fell at Czaslau. “The old people at our place -often described him to my father. He was a mighty -hunter before the Lord, and a great toper. Once in a -single year he shot 154 red deer, a feat which Prince -Frederick Charles will scarcely emulate, although the -Duke of Dessau might. I remember being told that when -he was stationed at Gollnow, the officers messed together, -the Colonel presiding over the kitchen. It was the -custom there for five or six dragoons to march in and -fire a volley from their carbines at each toast. Altogether -they had very curious customs. For instance, -instead of a plank bed they had as a punishment a -so-called wooden donkey with sharp edges, upon which -the men who had been guilty of any breach of discipline -were obliged to sit, often for a couple of hours—a very -painful punishment. On the birthday of the Colonel -or of other officers, the soldiers always carried this -donkey to the bridge and threw it into the river. But -a new one was invariably provided. The Burgomaster’s -wife told my father that it must have been renewed a -hundred times. I have a portrait of this great-grandfather -in Berlin. I am the very image of him, that is -to say, I was when I was young—when I saw myself in -the looking-glass.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then related that it was owing to a relative -of his, Finanzrath Kerl, that he was sent to Göttingen -University. He was consigned to Professor Hausmann, -and was to study mineralogy. “They were thinking,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">[p. 415]</span> -no doubt, of Leopold von Buch, and fancied it would be -fine for me to go through the world like him, hammer in -hand, chipping pieces off the rocks. Things, however, -turned out differently. It would have been better if I -had been sent to Bonn, where I should have met countrymen -of my own. At Göttingen I had no one from my own -part of the country, and so I met none of my University -acquaintances again until I saw a few of them in the -Reichstag.”</p> - -<p>Abeken said that after a brisk fire from the forts -this morning there had been a sortie of the Paris garrison, -which was principally directed against the positions -occupied by the Guards. It was, however, scarcely -more than an artillery engagement, as the attack was known -beforehand and preparations had been made to meet it. -Hatzfeldt said he should like to know how they were able -to discover that a sortie was going to take place. It -was suggested that in the open country movements of -transport and guns could not escape detection, as large -masses of troops could not be concentrated on the point -of attack in one night. “That was quite true,” observed -the Chief, with a laugh; “but often a hundred louis d’ors -also form an important part of this military -prescience.”</p> - -<p>After dinner I read drafts and despatches, from which -I ascertained, amongst other things, that as early as the -1st of September, Prussia had intimated in St. Petersburg -that she would put no difficulties in the way of such -action in the matter of the Black Sea as has now been -taken.</p> - -<p>Later on I arranged that Löwinsohn should deal -with the Gambetta-Trochu question in the <cite lang="fr">Indépendance -Belge</cite>. Also informed him that Delbrück would be here -again on the 28th inst.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">[p. 416]</span></p> - -<p><i>Thursday, December 22nd.</i>—This time there were -no strangers at dinner. The Chief was in excellent -spirits, but the conversation was of no special importance.</p> - -<p>A reference was made to yesterday’s sortie, and the -Chief remarked: “The French came out yesterday with -three divisions, and we had only fifteen companies, not -even four battalions, and yet we made nearly a thousand -prisoners. The Parisians with their attacks, now here -and now there, remind me of a French dancing master -conducting a quadrille.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza" lang="fr"> - <div class="verse indent2">“Ma commère, quand je danse</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Mon cotillon, va-t-il bien?</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Il va de ci, il va de là,</div> - <div class="verse indent2">Comme la queue de notre chat.”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Later on the Chief remarked: “Our august master -is not at all pleased at the idea of Antonelli at length -deciding to come here. He is uneasy about it. I am -not.” Abeken said: “The newspapers express very -different opinions about Antonelli. At one time -he is described as a man of great intelligence and -acumen; then again as a sly intriguer, and shortly -afterwards as a stupid fellow and a blockhead.” The -Chief replied: “It is not in the press alone that you -meet with such contradictions. It is the same with -many diplomats. Goltz and our Harry (von Arnim). -We will leave Goltz out of the question—that was -different. But Harry—to-day this way and to-morrow -that! When I used to read a number of his reports -together at Varzin, I found his opinion of people change -entirely a couple of times every week, according as he -had met with a friendly or unfriendly reception. As a -matter of fact, he sent different opinions by every post, -and often by the same post.”</p> - -<p>Afterwards read reports from Rome, London, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_417">[p. 417]</span> -Constantinople, and the replies sent to them. According -to Arnim’s despatch, Monsignor Franchi informed him -that the Pope and Antonelli wished to send a mission to -Versailles to congratulate the King on his accession to -the imperial dignity, and at the same time to induce the -French clergy to promote the liberation of the country -from Gambetta, and the negotiation of peace with us on -the basis of a cession of territory. In certain circumstances -Antonelli himself would undertake the task, in -which the Archbishop of Tours had failed, of securing an -acceptable peace. In reply to this communication Arnim -was informed that it was still uncertain whether Bavaria -would agree to the scheme of Emperor and Empire. We -should, nevertheless, carry it through. But, in that -case, its chief support having been found in public -opinion, the (mainly Ultramontane) elements of resistance -would be in still more marked opposition to the -new Germany. Bernstorff reports that the former Imperial -Minister, Duvernois, had called upon him at -Eugénie’s instance and suggested a cession of territory -to us equal in extent to that acquired by the Empire in -Nice and Savoy. The Empress wished to issue a proclamation. -Persigny was of a different opinion, as he -considered the Empress to be impossible. Bonnechose, -the Archbishop of Rouen, expressed a similar opinion to -Manteuffel. The reply sent to Bernstorff was that we -could not negotiate with the Empress (who, moreover, -does not appear to be reliable or politically capable), -unless Persigny was in agreement with her, and that -Duvernois’ overture was unpractical. Aali Pasha is -prepared to agree to the abolition of the neutrality of -the Black Sea, but demands in compensation the full -sovereignty of the Porte over the Bosphorus and the -Dardanelles. This was telegraphed by us to St. Petersburg,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">[p. 418]</span> -and there agreed to; whereupon Brunnow (the -Russian Ambassador in London) received the necessary -instructions in the matter.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, December 23rd.</i>—It was mentioned at -dinner that General von Voigts-Rhetz was outside -Tours, the inhabitants having offered so much resistance -that it was found necessary to shell the town. The -Chief added, “He ought not to have stopped firing -when they hoisted the white flag. I would have continued -to shell them until they sent out four hundred -hostages.” He again condemned the leniency of the -officers towards civilians who offer resistance. Even -notorious treachery was scarcely punished as it ought -to be, and so the French imagined that they could do -what they liked against us. “Here is, for instance, this -Colonel Krohn,” he continued. “He first has a lawyer -tried for aiding and abetting franctireurs, and then, -when he sees him condemned, he sends in first one and -then another petition for mercy, instead of letting the -man be shot, and finally despatches the wife to me with -a safe conduct. Yet he is generally supposed to be an -energetic officer and a strict disciplinarian, but he can -hardly be quite right in his head.”</p> - -<p>From the discussion of this foolish leniency the -conversation turned on General von Unger, Chief of -the Staff to the 7th Army Corps, who had gone out of -his mind, and had to be sent home. He is, it seems, -generally moody and silent, but occasionally breaks out -into loud weeping. “Yes,” sighed the Chief, “officers in -that position are terribly harassed. Constantly at work, -always responsible, and yet unable to get things done, -and hampered by intrigue. Almost as bad as a Minister. -I know that sort of crying myself. It is over-excitement -of the nerves, hysterical weeping. I, too, had it at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">[p. 419]</span> -Nikolsburg, and badly. A Minister is just as badly -treated—all sorts of worries—an incessant plague of -midges. Other things can be borne, but one must be -properly treated. I cannot endure shabby treatment. -If I were not treated with courtesy, I should be inclined -to throw my riband of the Black Eagle into the -dustbin.”</p> - -<p>The Versailles <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> having been mentioned, the -Chief observed: “Last week they published a novel by -Heyse, the scene of which is laid in Meran. Such -sentimental twaddle is quite out of place in a paper -published at the cost of the King, which after all this -one is. The Versailles people do not want that either. -They look for political news and military intelligence -from France, from England, or, if you like, from Italy, -but not such namby-pamby trash. I have also a touch -of poetry in my nature, but the first few sentences of -that stuff were enough for me.” Abeken, at whose -instance the novel was published, stood up for the -editor, and said the story had been taken from the -<cite lang="fr">Revue des Deux Mondes</cite>, an admittedly high-class -periodical. The Chief, however, stuck to his own -opinion. Somebody remarked that the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> was -now written in better French. “It may be,” said the -Minister, “but that is a minor point. However, we are -Germans, and as such we always ask ourselves, even in -the most exalted regions, if we please our neighbours -and if what we do is to their satisfaction. If they do -not understand, let them learn German. It is a matter -of indifference whether a proclamation is written in a -good French style or not, so long as it is otherwise -adequate and intelligible. Moreover, we cannot expect -to be masters of a foreign language. A person who has -only used it occasionally for some two and a half years<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">[p. 420]</span> -cannot possibly express himself as well as one who has -used it for fifty-four years.” Steinmetz’s proclamation -then received some ironical praise, and a couple of -extraordinary expressions were quoted from it. Lehndorff -said: “It was not first-class French, but it was, at -any rate, intelligible.” The Chief: “Yes, it is their -business to understand it. If they cannot, let them find -some one to translate it for them. Those people who -fancy themselves merely because they speak good -French are of no use to us. But that is our misfortune. -Whoever cannot speak decent German is a made man, -especially if he can murder English. Old —— (I -understood: Meyendorff) once said to me: ‘Don’t trust -any Englishman who speaks French with a correct -accent.’ I have generally found that true. But I -must make an exception in favour of Odo Russell.”</p> - -<p>The name of Napoleon <abbr title="3">III.</abbr> then came up. The -Chief regarded him as a man of limited intelligence. -“He is much more good-natured and much less acute -than is usually believed.” “Why,” interrupted Lehndorff, -“that is just what some one said of Napoleon <abbr title="1">I.</abbr>: -‘a good honest fellow, but a fool.’” “But seriously,” -continued the Chief, “whatever one may think of the -<i lang="fr">coup d’état</i> he is really good-natured, sensitive, even -sentimental, while his intellect is not brilliant and his -knowledge limited. He is a specially poor hand at -geography, although he was educated in Germany, even -going to school there,—and he entertains all sorts of -visionary ideas. In July last he spent three days shilly-shallying -without being able to come to a decision, and -even now he does not know what he wants. People -would not believe me when I told them so a long time -ago. Already in 1854–55 I told the King, Napoleon -has no notion of what we are. When I became Minister<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">[p. 421]</span> -I had a conversation with him in Paris. He believed -there would certainly be a rising in Berlin before long -and a revolution all over the country, and in a plebiscite -the King would have the whole people against him. I -told him then that our people do not throw up barricades, -and that revolutions in Prussia are only made by -the Kings. If the King could only bear the strain for -three or four years he would carry his point. Of course -the alienation of public sympathy was unpleasant and -inconvenient. But if the King did not grow tired and -leave me in the lurch I should not fail. If an appeal -were made to the population, and a plebiscite were taken, -nine-tenths of them would vote for the King. At that -time the Emperor said of me: ‘<i lang="fr">Ce n’est pas un homme -sérieux.</i>’ Of course I did not remind him of that in the -weaver’s house at Donchery.”</p> - -<p>Somebody then mentioned that letters to Favre -began “<span lang="fr">Monsieur le Ministre</span>,” whereupon the Chief -said: “The next time I write to him I shall begin -<i lang="de">Hochwohlgeborner Herr!</i>” This led to a Byzantine discussion -of titles and forms of address, <i lang="de">Excellenz</i>, <i lang="de">Hochwohlgeboren</i>, -and <i lang="de">Wohlgeboren</i>. The Chancellor entertained -decidedly anti-Byzantine views. “All that -should be dropped,” he said. “I do not use those expressions -any longer in private letters, and officially I address -councillors down to the third class as <i lang="de">Hochwohlgeboren</i>.”</p> - -<p>Abeken, a Byzantine of the purest water, declared -that diplomats had already resented the occasional -omission of portions of their titles, and that only councillors -of the second class were entitled to <i lang="de">Hochwohlgeboren</i>. -“Well,” said the Chief, “I want to see all that -kind of thing done away with as far as we are concerned. -In that way we waste an ocean of ink in the course of -the year, and the taxpayer has good reason to complain<span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">[p. 422]</span> -of extravagance. I am quite satisfied to be addressed -simply as ‘Minister President Count von Bismarck.’”</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, December 24.</i>—Bucher told us at lunch -he had heard from Berlin that the Queen and the Crown -Princess had become very unpopular, owing to their intervention -on behalf of Paris; and that the Princess, -in the course of a conversation with Putbus, struck the -table and exclaimed: “For all that, Paris shall not be -bombarded!”</p> - -<p>We are joined at dinner by Lieutenant-Colonel von -Beckedorff, an old and intimate friend of the Chief, who -said to him: “If I had been an officer—I wish I were—I -should now have an army and we should not be -here outside Paris.” He proceeded to give reasons for -believing that it was a mistake to have waited and -invested Paris. With regard to the operations of the -last few weeks, he criticised the advance of the army so -far to the north and south-west and the intention of -advancing still further. “If it should become necessary -to retire from Rouen and Tours, the French will think -they have beaten us. It is an unpractical course to march -on every place where a mob has been collected. We -ought to remain within a certain line. It may be urged -that in that case the French would be able to carry on -their organisation beyond that line. But they will -always be able to do that even if we advance, and we -may be obliged ultimately to follow them to the -Pyrenees and the Mediterranean.” “When we were -still at Mainz, I thought that the best plan would be -for us to take what we wanted to keep and occupy some -five other departments as a pledge for the payment of -the cost of the war, and then let the French try to -drive us out of our positions.”</p> - -<p>A further discussion of the conduct of the war<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">[p. 423]</span> -followed, in the course of which the Chief remarked: -“With us it occasionally happens that it is not so much -the generals who begin and direct the course of battles -as the troops themselves. Just as it was with the -Greeks and Trojans. A couple of men jeer at each -other and come to blows, lances are flourished, others -rush in with their spears, and so it finally comes to a -pitched battle. First the outposts fire without any -necessity, then if all goes well others press forward after -them; at the start a non-commissioned officer commands -a batch of men, then a lieutenant advances with -more men, after him comes the regiment, and finally the -general must follow with all the troops that are left. -It was in that way that the battle of Spicheren began, -and also that of Gravelotte, which properly speaking -should not have taken place until the 19th. It was -different at Vionville. There our people had to spring -at the French like bulldogs and hold them fast. At St. -Privat the Guards made a foolish attack merely out of -professional jealousy of the Saxons, and then when it -failed threw the blame on the Saxon troops, who could -not have come a minute sooner with the long march they -had had to make, and who afterwards rescued them with -wonderful gallantry.”</p> - -<p>Later on I was summoned to see the Chief. Various -articles are to be written on the barbarous manner in -which the French are conducting the war—and not -merely the franctireurs, but also the regulars, who are -almost daily guilty of breaches of the Geneva Convention. -The French appear only to know, and appeal to, -those clauses that are advantageous to themselves. In -this connection should be mentioned the firing at flags -of truce, the ill-treatment and plundering of doctors -and hospital bearers and attendants, the murder of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">[p. 424]</span> -wounded soldiers, the misuse of the Geneva Cross by -franctireurs, the employment of explosive bullets, and -the treatment of German ships and crews by French -cruisers in breach of the law of nations. The conclusion -to be as follows:—The present French Government is -greatly to blame for all this. It has instigated a popular -war and can no longer check the passions it has let -loose, which disregard international law and the rules of -war. They are responsible for all the severity which -we are obliged to employ against our own inclinations -and contrary to our nature and habits, as shown in the -conduct of the Schleswig and Austrian campaigns.</p> - -<p>At 10 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> the Chief received the first class of the -Iron Cross.</p> - -<p>At tea Hatzfeldt informs me that he is instructed to -collect all the particulars published by the newspapers -respecting the cruelties of the French, and asks whether -I would not prefer to undertake that task. After I -promised to do so, he continued: “Moreover, I believe -the Chief only sent for me in order to tell me his -opinion of the new decoration.” He said to Hatzfeldt: “I -have already enough of these gewgaws, and here is the -good King sending me the first class of the Iron Cross. -I shall be thoroughly ridiculous with it, and look as if -I had won a great battle. If I could at least send my -son the second class which I no longer want!”</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, December 25th.</i>—Cardinal Bonnechose of -Rouen is said to be coming here. He and Persigny -want to convoke the old Legislative Assembly, and still -more the Senate, which is composed of calmer and riper -elements, in order to discuss the question of peace. The -Chief is believed to have made representations to the -King respecting the expediency, on political grounds, of -greater concentration in the military operations.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">[p. 425]</span></p> - -<p>We had no guests at dinner, and the conversation -was, for the most part, not worth repeating. The following -may, however, be noted. Abeken said he had observed -that I was keeping a very complete diary, and -Bohlen added in his own lively style: “Yes, he writes -down: ‘At 45 minutes past 3 o’clock Count or Baron So-and-so -said this or that,’ as if he were going to swear -to it at some future time.” Abeken said: “That will -one day be material for history. If one could only live -to read it!” I replied that it would certainly furnish -material for history, and very trustworthy material, but -not for thirty years to come. The Chief smiled and -said: “Yes, and the reference will then be: ‘<span lang="la">Conferas -Buschii</span>, cap. 3, p. 20.’”</p> - -<p>After dinner I read State documents and ascertained -from them that an extension of the German -frontier towards the west was first officially submitted -to the King, at Herny, on the 14th of August. It was -only on the 2nd September that the Baden Government -sent in a memorial in the same sense.</p> - -<p><i>Monday, December 26th.</i>—Waldersee dined with -us. The conversation was almost entirely on military -subjects. With respect to the further conduct of the -war, the Chief said that the wisest course would be to -concentrate our forces in Alsace-Lorraine, the department -of the Meuse, and another neighbouring department, -which would amount to a strip of territory with -about 2,600,000 inhabitants. If one took in a few other -departments in addition, without Paris, it would amount -to about seven millions, or with Paris to about nine -million inhabitants. In any case the operations should -be limited to a smaller area than that occupied by our -armies at present.</p> - -<p>People’s ability to carry liquor was then discussed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">[p. 426]</span> -and the Chief observed: “Formerly drink did not -affect me in the least. When I think of my performances -in that line! The strong wines, particularly Burgundy!” -The conversation afterwards turned for a -while on card-playing, and the Minister remarked that -he had also done a good deal in that way formerly. He -had once played twenty-one rubbers of whist, for instance, -one after the other—“which amounts to seven -hours time.” He could only feel an interest in cards -when playing for high stakes, and then it was not -a proper thing for the father of a family.</p> - -<p>This subject had been introduced by a remark of the -Chief’s that somebody was a “<span lang="de">Riemchenstecher</span>.” He -asked if we understood what the word meant, and then -proceeded to explain it. “<span lang="de">Riemchenstechen</span>” is an old -soldiers’ game, and a “<span lang="de">Riemchenstecher</span>” is not exactly -a scamp, but rather a sly, sharp fellow. The Minister -then related how he had seen a father do his own son at -cards out of a sum of twelve thousand thalers. “I saw -him cheat, and made a sign to the son, who understood -me. He lost the game and paid, although it cost him -two years’ income. But he never played again.”</p> - -<p>After dinner wrote another article on the barbarity -with which the French wage war, and cut out for the -King an article from the <cite lang="de">Staatsbuergerzeitung</cite>, recommending -a less considerate treatment of the enemy.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">[p. 427]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="16">XVI</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdgcent">FIRST WEEK OF THE BOMBARDMENT</p> -</div> - -<p class="firstpara">On Tuesday, the 27th of December, the long-wished-for -bombardment of Paris at length began, commencing -on the east side. As the following particulars show, we -at first knew nothing of it, and afterwards also it was -only for a few days that the firing gave an impression -of being particularly violent. We very soon grew accustomed -to it, and it never entirely diverted our attention -even from trifles, nor caused any lengthy -interruption of our work or of the flow of thought. -The French forts had been prepared for it. The diary -may now resume its narrative.</p> - -<p>From early morning on Tuesday until far into the -day there was a heavy fall of snow and rather severe -cold. In the morning Theiss, who serves Abeken as -well as myself, and who seems to consider that our old -Geheimrath is a Catholic, told me:—“He always reads -his prayers in the morning. I believe it is Latin. He -speaks very loud, so that he can sometimes be heard in -the antechamber. Probably it’s a mass.” He then -added that Abeken supposed the heavy firing that was -heard from 7 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> was the commencement of the -bombardment.</p> - -<p>Wrote several letters to Berlin with instructions as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">[p. 428]</span> -to articles. Bray is to be sharply attacked by our -newspapers. After 12 o’clock I telegraph to London on -the instructions of the Chief that the bombardment of -the outer fortifications began this morning. Our -artillery has commenced with an attack upon Mont -Avron, a redoubt near Bondy, and it appears that the -Saxons had the honour to fire the first shot.</p> - -<p>The Minister remained in bed the whole day, not -because he was particularly unwell, but, as he told me, -to maintain an equable warmth. He was also absent -from dinner, at which we were joined by Count Solms. -The only point of note in the conversation was Abeken’s -mention of a very pretty poem in the <cite lang="de">Kladderadatsch</cite>, -on the Duke of Coburg—probably a panegyric.</p> - -<p>The Bonapartists seem to have become very active, -and to entertain great plans. According to Bernstorff’s -despatches Persigny and Palikao intend to get us to -grant neutrality to Orleans, and to convoke there the -Corps Législatif to decide whether the country is to -have a republic or a monarchy, and if the latter which -dynasty is to reign. It is intended, however, to wait -for a while, until greater discouragement shall have -made the people more accommodating. Bonnechose -proposes to attempt a negotiation for peace between -Germany and France. This prelate was formerly a -lawyer, and only entered holy orders subsequently. He -is considered to be intelligent, is connected with the -Jesuits, and although in politics he is really a Legitimist -he has a high opinion of Eugénie because of her piety. -He was an ardent supporter of the doctrine of infallibility, -and expects to be elected Pope, which position -he has indeed some prospect of attaining. The Archbishop -told Professor Wagener, who had been sent to -see him by Manteuffel respecting the hospital arrangements,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">[p. 429]</span> -that he could induce Trochu, with whom he is -acquainted, to surrender Paris in case we did not insist -upon a cession of territory. The Archbishop suggested -that instead of a cession of territory we might demand -the return of Nice and Savoy to Victor Emmanuel, and -then oblige the latter to restore their territories to the -Pope and to the Sovereigns of Tuscany and Naples. In -that way we should win renown as the protectors of -order, and the restorers of justice in Europe. A strange -idea indeed!</p> - -<p>The Chief has given directions to adopt the severest -measures against Noquet le Roi, where a surprise by -franctireurs was assisted by the inhabitants. He has -also rejected the appeal of the mayor and municipality -of Chatillon to be relieved from a contribution of a -million francs imposed upon the town as a penalty for -similar conduct. In both cases he was guided by the -principle that the population must be made to suffer by -the war in order to render them more disposed to peace.</p> - -<p>At 11 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> called to the Chief, who gave me several -newspaper articles from Berlin “for the collection” -(of examples of French barbarity in the conduct of the -war which I have begun under his instructions), as well -as two other articles that are to be sent to the King.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, December 28th.</i>—Snowfall and moderately -cold. The Chief again kept to his room to-day. -He handed me a letter in French, dated the 25th -instant, which he had received from “<span lang="fr">Une Américaine</span>.” -I am to make what use I like of it. It runs as follows:—</p> - -<p>“<span lang="fr">Graf von Bismarck. Jouissez autant que possible, -Herr Graf, du climat frais de Versailles, car, un jour, -vous aurez à supporter des châleurs infernales pour -tous les malheurs que vous avez causés à la France et à -l’Allemagne.</span>” That is all!</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">[p. 430]</span></p> - -<p>His Excellency Herr Delbrück again lunches with -us. He is convinced that the Second Bavarian Chamber -will ultimately approve the Versailles treaties just as -the North German Diet did, respecting whose decision -he had been really uneasy for some days.</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, December 29th.</i>—The Minister still -remains in bed, but works there, and does not seem to -be particularly unwell.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon I translated for the King Granville’s -despatch to Loftus respecting Bismarck’s circular -on the Luxemburg affair. Afterwards studied documents. -In the middle of October the Chief received -a memorial from Coburg with proposals as to a reorganisation -of Germany. These also included the -restoration of the imperial dignity, and finally the -substitution for the Bundesrath of a Federal Ministry, -and the creation of a Reichsrath to consist of representatives -of the Governments and delegates from the -Diets. The Chief replied to this memorial that some -of the ideas brought forward were already for some -time past in process of realisation. He could not agree -to the proposals as to a Federal Ministry and the -Reichsrath, as he considered them calculated to hamper -the new organisation, and, if necessary, he would openly -declare against them. It is reported from Brussels that -the King of the Belgians is well disposed towards us, -but has no means of controlling the anti-German press -of the country. The Grand Duke of Hesse has stated -that Alsace and Lorraine must become Prussian -provinces. Dalwigk (his Minister), who is as opposed -to us as ever, wishes to see the territory to be ceded by -France incorporated with Baden. The Grand Duchy -would then cede the district near Heidelberg and -Mannheim to Bavaria, whose connection with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">[p. 431]</span> -Palatinate on the left bank of the Rhine would be thus -re-established. In Rome the Pope wishes to undertake -“mediation” between ourselves and France. The -expression quoted was objected to by Arnim as inappropriate.</p> - -<p>The following particulars relating to the King of -Bavaria are contained in a report from Munich: “His -kingdom is not of this world. It has been further -observed that Major Sauer has no longer any influence -upon him, while that of Privy Councillor Eisenhart has -increased, as indeed also that of Count Holnstein. He -is not coming to Versailles, in the first place because he -would be obliged to ride, which he can no longer do with -comfort, and in the next place because he does not like -to play second fiddle. All that Bray thinks of is to -keep his own position in Vienna warm, if only for the -sake of his livelihood.” Lutz is “the <i lang="fr">tête forte</i> in the -Ministry, and is very ambitious.” The Princes Karl and -Ludwig are strongly anti-Prussian. The Nuncio’s -secretary exercises a great influence with his chief.—Read -a letter from King Lewis to our Crown Prince. It -was written at the commencement of the war. The -handwriting is coarse and ugly and the lines are not -straight. It expresses a hope that the independence of -Bavaria will be respected. Otherwise the tone of the -epistle is soundly patriotic.</p> - -<p>In the evening I handed Bucher, as material for an -article, all the newspaper reports I have collected on the -barbarous conduct of the war by the French, contrary to -the law of nations.</p> - -<p>At 10 o’clock I was called to the Chief, who was -lying before the fire on the sofa, wrapt in a blanket. -He said: “Well, we’ve got him!” “Whom, your -Excellency?” “Mont Avron.” He then showed me a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">[p. 432]</span> -letter from Count Waldersee, reporting that this redoubt -was occupied by the troops of the 12th Army Corps this -afternoon. “It is to be hoped that they have laid no -mine and that the poor Saxons will not be blown up.” -I telegraphed the news of this first success in the -bombardment to London, but in cipher, “as otherwise -the general staff might be angry.”</p> - -<p>Subsequently the Chancellor sent for me once more -to show me an outburst of the Vienna <cite lang="de">Tageblatt</cite> which -has been reproduced by the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>. It -declares that Bismarck has been thoroughly deceived as -to the power of resistance of Paris, and in his overhaste, -which has already cost the lives of hundreds of thousands -(why not at once say millions?), has put forward excessive -demands in connection with the peace. We reply, -through the <cite lang="de">Spenersche Zeitung</cite>, that up to the present -no one knows what the Chancellor’s conditions are, as he -has not yet had any opportunity of stating them officially, -but they do not in any case go so far as German public -opinion, which almost unanimously demands the cession -of all Lorraine. No one can say either what his views -were respecting the power of resistance of Paris, as he -has never had to give official expression to them.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, December 30th.</i>—The bitter cold of the last -few days still continues. In consequence of his indisposition -the Chief still keeps to his room, and is indeed -mostly in bed. In the morning, on his instructions, I -telegraphed particulars of the occupation of Mont Avron, -and of the disgraceful conduct of the French authorities, -who, according to the official acknowledgment of the -delegation at Tours, have offered a premium to imprisoned -officers to return to France, in breach of their word of -honour. On the suggestion of the Chief I write paragraphs<span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">[p. 433]</span> -on this subject for the German press as well as for the -local <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> to the following effect:—</p> - -<p>“We have frequently had occasion to direct attention -to the profound demoralisation manifested by French -statesmen and officers in the matter of military honour. -A communication, which reaches us from a trustworthy -source, proves that we had not up to the present realised -how deep and widespread that evil is. We have now -before us an official order issued by the French Ministry -of War, the 5th Bureau of the 6th Department, which -bears the title ‘<span lang="fr">Solde et revues</span>.’ It is dated from Tours -on the 13th of November, and is signed by Lieutenant-Colonel -Alfred Jerald, and by Colonel Tissier of the -general staff of the 17th Army Corps. This order, -which is based upon another dated the 10th of November, -assures all French officers imprisoned in Germany, -without distinction, a money payment in case they -escape from custody. We repeat, all the French -officers without distinction; that is to say also those who -have given their word of honour not to escape. The -premium offered for such dishonourable conduct amounts -to 750 francs. A measure of this description needs no -comment. Honour (which is the dearest treasure of -every German officer and—duty and justice demand -that we should add—formerly also of all French officers) -is regarded by the men who came to power on the 4th -of September as a commodity to be bought and sold, -and indeed very cheaply. In this way officers of the -French army will come to believe that France is no -longer administered by a Government, but is on the -contrary exploited by a trading firm, and one with lax -principles of honesty and decency, under the title of -‘Gambetta and Co.’ ‘Who’ll buy gods?’ ‘Who’ll sell his -word of honour?’”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">[p. 434]</span></p> - -<p>Afterwards I write another short article on an error -frequently committed by the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite> and -recently repeated in connection with the Chancellor’s -despatch to Vienna. The great Rhenish newspaper -writes: “Ever since 1866 we have been amongst those -who have persistently warned both Vienna and Berlin -to dismiss their idle jealousies and to come to the best -understanding possible in the circumstances. We have -often regretted the <em>personal irritation</em> between Bismarck -and Beust which appears to stand in the way of such -a <i lang="fr">rapprochement</i>, &c.” The reply is to the following -effect: “It has been observed that the <cite lang="de">Kölnische -Zeitung</cite> has already frequently sought to explain -political acts and omissions of the Chancellor of the -Confederation by personal motives, personal likes and -dislikes, personal disposition and ill humour; and we -have here a further instance of this unjustifiable course. -We cannot imagine why such suspicions are time after -time brought forward. We only know that absolutely -no feeling of personal irritation exists between the -Chancellor of the North German Confederation and the -Chancellor of the Austria-Hungarian Monarchy, and -indeed that, previous to 1866, when they often came -into personal contact, they were on excellent terms, as -Count Bismarck himself declared in the North German -Reichstag. Since then nothing has happened between -them as private persons calculated to create bitterness, -if for no other reason than because they have had no -personal intercourse. If they have taken up a position -more or less antagonistic to each other the reasons are -obvious. Up to the present they were the representatives -of different political systems, and acted upon -different political principles which it was difficult -although not quite impossible to reconcile. This, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">[p. 435]</span> -this alone, is the sole explanation of what the <cite lang="de">Kölnische -Zeitung</cite> ascribes to personal motives, from which the -thoughts and acts of no statesman of the present day is -farther removed than those of the Chancellor of the -Confederation. It may also be remarked incidentally -that not only has Count Bismarck not been ‘thoroughly’ -deceived as to the power of resistance of Paris, but he -has not been deceived at all. His opinion has never -been asked on the subject; but we know on the best -authority that months ago he regarded the capture of -the city as difficult, and was decidedly opposed to the -investment even before the fall of Metz.”</p> - -<p>In reading documents in the evening I find that the -Chief has had a letter sent to General Bismarck-Bohlen -stating that he does not agree with the general in -thinking that his main task should be to alleviate the -misery caused by the war, and to render the Alsacians -well disposed towards the future masters of the country. -For the moment his first business must be to promote -the objects of the war and to secure the safety of the -troops. He should therefore expel such French officials -as will not take service under us, including the magistrates -who will not discharge the duties of their office; -and he should also withhold the payment of pensions -directing the pensioners to apply to the Government at -Tours. Under such conditions the people would be -more disposed to call for peace.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, December 31st.</i>—All our people are -ailing. I also begin to feel exhausted. It will be well -to shorten the night work which my diary entails, or to -interrupt it altogether for a few days.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, January 3rd.</i>—I observe that the opinion -already expressed by the Chief on several occasions, -that the dispersion of the German forces towards the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">[p. 436]</span> -north and south-west is dangerous, and that more in -concentration is desirable, is also held elsewhere. A -military authority has written on this subject in the -Vienna <cite lang="de">Presse</cite>; and the <cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite> of the 31st -of December publishes an article which is even more in -harmony with the Chief’s views. It says, <i lang="la">inter alia</i>:—“The -withdrawal of our troops from Dijon and the -non-occupation of Tours, to the gates of which a division -of the 10th Army Corps had advanced, give perhaps an -indication of the views entertained generally on the -German side, and which will govern the continuation of -the campaign. It may possibly be expected that France -will forgo further resistance after the fall of Paris, and -will agree to the German conditions of peace. That, -however, is not certain, and it is necessary to be prepared -for an opposite contingency. In any case the -fall of Paris will not be immediately followed by the -establishment of a Government generally recognised and -supported by a National Assembly, with which we could -enter into negotiations for peace. Then if hostilities -are to be continued they cannot aim at conquering the -whole of such an extensive country as France. Our -army, as hitherto, might indeed be everywhere victorious -and disperse the hostile forces. That, however, would -not be sufficient. It would be necessary to organise -a new civil administration in all the conquered districts -and to subject the population to its rule. Even in the -country lying between the Channel and the Loire our -forces would not be sufficient to completely secure the -safety of communications and to maintain the authority -of a foreign administration in each town and village, to -prevent treacherous attacks and to collect the taxes as -well as the contributions and supplies that are indispensable -for the purposes of the war. To extend the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">[p. 437]</span> -area of occupation indefinitely would not only be to overtax -our military power, however highly we may rate it, -but to unduly drain our home services for the necessary -supply of civil administrators. Therefore, if peace is -not attainable within a very short time our military -authorities must set clear and distinct limits to the task -which they propose to themselves. They must select a -fixed portion of French territory, which they can occupy -so completely that we shall have full command over it, -and can retain it as long as may be desired. This -portion should include the capital and the best provinces, -with the finest and most warlike population, and -it would have, of course, to bear the whole burden and -cost of the war until a peace party had grown up -throughout the country strong enough to force its views -upon the Government of the day. The occupied territory -should be so limited as to make its defence as easy -as possible from a military point of view. Of course -further offensive operations for temporary purposes -might be undertaken beyond those lines, but there -should from the beginning be no intention of going -permanently beyond them. In the meantime the work -of annexation should be proceeded with in those districts -which Germany requires for the security of her frontier -without awaiting the conclusion of peace.”</p> - -<p><i>Friday, January 6th.</i>—Up to yesterday the cold -was very severe. The Chief has been unwell nearly the -whole week. Yesterday for the first time he went out -for a short drive, and again this afternoon. The Bureau -has been reinforced by two officials, namely Oberregierungsrath -Wagener and Baron von Holstein, a -secretary of embassy. Amongst the articles which I -have written within the last few days was one concerning -the withdrawal of a number of railway waggons<span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">[p. 438]</span> -from home traffic, and consequently from the use of -German industry, solely for the purpose of collecting -provisions here in anticipation of the time when famine -shall at length compel Paris to surrender. I described -this as humane, but unpractical and impolitic, as the -Parisians, when they hear that we have made preparations -for that event, will continue their resistance to -the last crust of bread and the last joint of horseflesh. -We shall, therefore, ourselves be contributing through -such acts of humanity to a prolongation of the siege. -It is not for us to provide against the threatened danger -of famine by establishing storehouses or collecting the -means of transport for reprovisioning the city, but -rather for the Parisians themselves by means of a timely -capitulation. I yesterday translated for the use of the -King two English documents respecting the sinking of -English coal ships near Rouen by our troops, who considered -the measure necessary.</p> - -<p>After dinner I read despatches and drafts. A -demand has been addressed to the German railways -to supply a number of waggons (“2,800 axles”) for the -purpose of transporting provisions to Paris. The Chief -entered an energetic protest against this measure, which -would be prejudicial to us from a political standpoint, -as the knowledge of those provisions would enable the -holders of power in Paris to exhaust all their supplies -before finally yielding, without any fear of famine at -the last moment. A telegram was sent to Itzenplitz -on the 3rd of January suggesting that he should not -deliver a single waggon for this purpose, and asking him -to reply by wire whether he would decline such requisitions. -If not, the Chief “would request his -Majesty to relieve him from all responsibility.” Itzenplitz -telegraphed back that he agreed with the views of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">[p. 439]</span> -the Chancellor of the Confederation, and would act -accordingly. A letter from the King of Sweden, -addressed to a Commandant Verrier in Erfurt, is to -be returned through the Dead Letter Office. His -Swedish Majesty, whom we know not to be particularly -well disposed towards us, says in this epistle, which, by -the way, is written in bad French with many orthographical -errors, that he regrets to have to watch the -struggle with “folded arms,” and to be obliged to “eat -his bread in peace.” “<i lang="fr">Nous nous armons tardivement, -hélas! mais avec vigueur, et j’espère que le jour de -vengeance arrivera!</i>” Vengeance? What have the -Swedes to avenge upon us? It would seem as if Prince -Charles of Rumania were no longer able to manage the -local extremists, and were thinking of abdicating and -leaving the country. “We have no political interests -in Rumania.” The Chief has made representations to -the King suggesting a limitation of the seat of war for -political reasons, namely on the ground that only thus -shall we be able to maintain our position in the occupied -portions of France and take full advantage of our occupation; -and he has further proposed that we should -give notice to withdraw from the Geneva Convention, -which is unpractical. Bonnechose has, at the instance -of the Pope, addressed a letter to King William in -favour of peace, but of an “honourable” peace, that is -to say, one that would not involve a cession of territory. -That we could have had twelve weeks ago from Monsieur -Favre, if the Chief had not preferred a <em>useful</em> peace. -For this reason the Minister recommended that the -letter should be left unanswered. According to an -intimation from Persigny, Prince Napoleon wishes to -come to Versailles in order to act as intermediary. He -is a highly intelligent and amiable gentleman, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">[p. 440]</span> -enjoys little consideration in France, and therefore the -Chancellor declined to negotiate with him. In the -London Conference on the Black Sea question we are to -give every possible support to Russia’s demands. The -Dowager Queen at Dresden has suggested to Eichmann -(the Prussian Minister) that it would be an indication -of confidence in Saxony if we were to allow them to -garrison Königstein with Saxon troops alone.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, January 7th.</i>—Haber suggested that -possibly some political documents of importance for us -might be found in Odillon Barrot’s house at Bougival. -I asked the Minister’s permission to go over there with -Bucher. He replied: “That is all very well, but is it -a private library? I must preserve the things for <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> -Odillon Barrot. But you can see if there is anything -political amongst them.” It proved on examination to -be a well-chosen library, containing historical and -political works, as well as polite literature. It included -also a number of English books, but contained nothing -of the character suspected by Haber.</p> - -<p>This evening the Minister dines with us again.</p> - -<p>We hear at tea that the bombardment of the forts -on the north side of Paris has also begun, and shows -good results. Fires have broken out in Vaugirard and -Grenelles—whence probably the smoke arose which -we saw yesterday from the hills between Ville d’Avray -and Sèvres.</p> - -<p>Keudell thinks I ought to tell the Chief. I go up -to him at a quarter to 11. He thanks me, and then -asks, “What time is it?” I answer “Nearly 11, -Excellency.” “Well, then, tell Keudell to prepare the -communication for the King.” I ascertain down stairs -that this is a complaint that by 11 o’clock at night the -military authorities have not communicated to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">[p. 441]</span> -Minister matters of which civilians were informed -at 2 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span></p> - -<p><i>Sunday, January 8th.</i>—At dinner the Chief gave -some further reminiscences of his youth. He spent the -time from his sixth to his twelfth year at the Plahmann -Institute in Berlin, an educational establishment worked -on the principles of Pestalozzi and Jahn. It was a -period he could not think of with pleasure. The -<i lang="fr">régime</i> was artificially Spartan. While there he never -fully satisfied his hunger, except when he was invited -out. “The meat was like india-rubber, not exactly -hard, but too much for one’s teeth. And carrots—I -liked them raw,—but cooked, and with hard potatoes, -square junks!”</p> - -<p>This led up to the pleasures of the table, the Chief -giving his views chiefly of certain varieties of fish. -He had a pleasant recollection of fresh-river lampreys, -of which he could eat eight or ten; he then praised -schnäpel, a kind of whiting, and the Elbe salmon, the -latter being “a happy mean between the Baltic salmon -and that of the Rhine, which is too rich for me.” -With regard to bankers’ dinners, “nothing is considered -good unless it is dear,—no carp because it is comparatively -cheap in Berlin, but <i lang="de">zander</i> (a kind of perch-pike) -because it is difficult to carry. As a matter of -fact I do not care for these, and just as little for -lampreys, of which the flesh is too soft for me. But I -could eat marena every day of the week. I almost -prefer them to trout, of which I only like those of a -medium size, weighing about half-a-pound. The large -ones that are usually served at dinners in Frankfurt, -and which mostly come from the Wolfsbrünnen near -Heidelberg, are not worth much. They are expensive, -and so one must have them. That’s also the way at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">[p. 442]</span> -Court with oysters. They don’t eat any in England -when the Queen is present, as they are too cheap -there.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned on the Arc de -Triomphe in Paris, which was compared with the -Brandenburg Gate. The Chief said of the latter: “It -is really beautiful in its way—particularly without the -two pillared porticos. I have advised the King to let -it stand free, and have the guard houses removed. It -would be much more effective, as it would no longer be -squeezed in and partly concealed as it is now.”</p> - -<p>Wagener having mentioned his former journalistic -work, the Minister said: “I know my first newspaper -article was about shooting. At that time I was still a -wild junker. Some one had written a spiteful article -on sport, which set my blood boiling, so that I sat down -and wrote a reply, which I handed to Altvater, the -editor, but without success. He answered very politely, -but said it would not do, he could not accept it. I was -beside myself with indignation that any one should be -at liberty to attack sportsmen without being obliged to -listen to their reply; but so it was at that time.”</p> - -<p>The defence put forward by the Luxemburg Government -in reply to our complaints respecting breaches of -neutrality is insufficient. It perhaps shows the good -will of that Government, but certainly the facts prove -that they are not able to maintain their own neutrality. -They have been again warned, further evidence being -given in support of our charges. If this does not prove -effective, we shall be obliged to occupy the Grand -Duchy, and hand over his passports to the Grand Ducal -Minister in Berlin. A communication to the same effect -has been made to the Powers that signed the Treaty of -1867. According to a memorandum in which the Chief<span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">[p. 443]</span> -proposed to the King that, the statesmen who concluded -the treaties providing for the accession of Baden and -Würtemberg to the North German Confederation should -receive decorations, an exception was to be made in the -case of Dalwigk, because he had constantly intrigued -and worked against Prussia and the cause of German -unity, and only finally gave way on the compulsion of -necessity; and his decoration would, therefore, have a -bad effect upon public opinion, which had frequently -urged the exercise of Prussian influence to secure his -dismissal.</p> - -<p><i>Monday, January 9th.</i>—It is reported from London -that Prince Napoleon has a plan under consideration for -concluding on his own authority a peace satisfactory to -us, and then after the capitulation of Paris convoking -the two Chambers to ratify the treaty, and to decide -upon the future form of government, and eventually -upon the future dynasty. This plan would be supported -by Vinoy and Ducrot. The Orleanists are also active, -and hope to win over Thiers to their side. Bernstorff -reports that it has been ascertained from a servant of -<abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Reitlinger, Favre’s secretary, that he has endeavoured -to hatch a democratic conspiracy in South Germany. -Gladstone has received Reitlinger, and promised to -support him in every possible way.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon I drafted a telegram as to the -further successful progress of the bombardment. On -submitting it to the Chief, he struck out a passage in -which it was mentioned that our shells had fallen in the -Luxemburg Gardens, as being “impolitic.” He also -instructed me to telegraph to the Foreign Office in -Berlin to omit this passage from the report of the -general staff.</p> - -<p>The following pretty story is making the round of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">[p. 444]</span> -the newspapers. It is taken from the private letter of -a German officer, and was first published in the <cite lang="de">Leipziger -Tageblatt</cite>. “One day the aide-de-camp, Count Lehndorff, -visited Captain von Strantz at one of the outposts -at Ville d’Avray, near Paris. In reply to the -Count’s question as to how he was getting on, the -Captain said: ‘Oh, very well; I have just been dining -for the sixty-seventh time off roast mutton.’ The -Count laughed, and after a while drove off again. Next -day a policeman called upon the captain with the -following message: ‘It having come to the knowledge -of his Excellency Count Bismarck, Chancellor of the -Confederation, that Captain von Strantz would doubtless -be dining to-day off his sixty-eighth joint of roast -mutton, his Excellency sends him herewith four ducks -as a change of menu.’” This anecdote has the advantage -over most of those appearing in the press, that it is in -the main correct. But the policeman did not call on -the next day. Count Lehndorff dined with us a few -days before Christmas.</p> - -<p>The Chief was shaved as usual on coming to dinner -to-day. He first mentioned that Count Bill had received -the Iron Cross, and seemed to think that it should more -properly have been given to his elder son, as he was -wounded in the cavalry charge at Mars la Tour. “The -wound was an accident,” he went on, “and others who -were not wounded may have been equally brave. But -it is, after all, a distinction, a kind of compensation for -the wounded.” “I remember when I was a young man -that one Herr von Reuss went about Berlin also wearing -the Cross. I thought to myself what wonders he must -have done; but I afterwards ascertained that he had an -uncle who was a Minister, and he had been attached to -the general staff as a kind of private aide-de-camp.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_445">[p. 445]</span></p> - -<p>The Chancellor suddenly remarked; “It must be -three weeks since I saw Serenissimus.<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> It is not so -long since I saw Serenior.<a id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> I cut the Sereni.” The -Chancellor then continued, obviously with reference to -the Sereni, that is the Princes at the Hôtel des Reservoirs, -or one of them, but without any connecting -sentence: “I remember at Göttingen I once called a -student a silly youngster. (<span lang="de">Dummer Junge</span>, the recognised -form of offence when it is intended to provoke a -duel.) On his sending me his challenge I said I had -not wished to offend him by the remark that he was a -silly youngster, but merely to express my conviction.”</p> - -<p>While we were discussing pheasant and sauerkraut -some one remarked that the Minister had not been out -shooting for a long time, although the woods between -Versailles and Paris were full of game. “Yes,” he -replied, “something has always happened to prevent -me. The last time was at Ferrières, the King was away -and he had forbidden shooting, that is to say, in the -park, just as he has now given orders that Ferrières -must be spared, merely because it belongs to a rich Jew. -We did not go into the park, and there was plenty of -game, but not much of it was shot as the cartridges -were bad.” Holstein, who, by the way, turns out to be -exceedingly amiable, hard-working and helpful, remarked: -“This is the account given of the affair, -Excellency. You were aware of his Majesty’s orders, and -of course desired to obey them. But it unfortunately -happened as you were taking a walk on one occasion -you were suddenly set upon by three or four pheasants -and were obliged to shoot them down in self-defence.”</p> - -<p>The French Rothschild recalled the German one, of -whom the Chief related a very amusing story. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">[p. 446]</span> -said: “When the members of the Reichstag were here -recently, I was seated next to Rothschild at the Crown -Prince’s. The Prince sat next to me, and on his other -side was Simson. Rothschild smokes a grew deal, and -smelt of that and other things, and so I thought I would -play a little practical joke before we sat down. But it -did not succeed. It is only after dinner that stewards -of the household begin to be sensible and listen to a -body. I had my revenge however, by letting my -neighbour have the benefit of my remarks. I said to -him, ‘You should have a house in Berlin, and invite -people to see you, and so on.’ ‘What do you mean?’ -he asked, in a loud and almost angry voice. ‘Am I to -give dinners in a restaurant?’ ‘Well, you might do -that too,’ I replied, ‘but to other people, not to me. In -my opinion you owe it to the credit of your house. But -the best thing would be to have a place of your own in -Berlin. You know there is nothing to be expected any -longer from the Paris and London Rothschilds, and so -you ought to do something in Berlin. People are constantly -surprised that you have not yet got into the -Almanach de Gotha. Of course, what has not been done -up to now may yet happen, but I am afraid you are not -going the right way to work.’”</p> - -<p>Finally polite literature came to be discussed, and -Spielhagen’s “<span lang="de">Problematische Naturen</span>” was mentioned. -The Chancellor had read it, and did not think -badly of it, but he said: “I shall certainly not read -it a second time. One has absolutely no time here. -Otherwise a much-occupied Minister might well take up -such a book and forget his despatches over it for a -couple of hours.” Freytag’s “<span lang="de">Soll und Haben</span>” was -also mentioned, and his description of the Polish riots, -as well as the story of the bread-and-butter miss and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">[p. 447]</span> -ball, were praised, while his heroes were considered -insipid. One said they had no passion, and another no -souls. Abeken, who took an active part in the conversation, -observed that he could not read any of these -things twice, and that most of the well-known modern -authors had only produced one good book apiece. “Well,” -said the Chief, “I could also make you a present of -three-fourths of Goethe—the remainder, certainly—I -should like to live for a long spell on a desert island -with seven or eight volumes out of the forty.” Fritz -Reuter was then referred to, and the Minister remarked, -“‘<span lang="nl">Uit de Franzosentid</span>,’ very pretty but not a novel.” -“<span lang="nl">Stromtid</span>” was also mentioned. “H’m,” said the -Chief, “<i lang="nl">Dat is as dat ledder is</i> (that’s just how it is, -a favourite expression of one of the characters in the -book)—that, it is true, is a novel, and it contains many -good and others indifferent, but all through the peasants -are described exactly as they are.”</p> - -<p>In the evening I translated for the King a long -article from <cite>The Times</cite> on the situation in Paris. -Afterwards at tea Keudell spoke very well and sensibly -of certain qualities of the Chancellor, who reminded him -of Achilles, his great gifts, the youthfulness of his -character, his quickness of temper, his tendency to -<i lang="de">Weltschmerz</i>, his inclination to withdraw from great -affairs and his invariably victorious action. Our times -could boast a Troy, and also an Agamemnon, shepherd -of the nations.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, January 10th.</i>—Earth and sky are full -of snow. A shot is only to be heard now and again -from our batteries, or from the forts. Count Bill is here, -and General von Manteuffel calls at 1 o’clock. They -are passing through on their way to the army that is to -operate against Bourbaki in the south-east under Manteuffel.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_448">[p. 448]</span> -During the afternoon I telegraph twice to -London reporting the retreat of Chanzy at Le Mans, -with the loss of a thousand men who were made -prisoners, and Werder’s victorious resistance at Villersexel -to a superior French force advancing to the relief -of Belfort.</p> - -<p>The first subject mentioned at dinner is the bombardment. -The Chief holds that most of the Paris -forts are of little importance, except perhaps Mont -Valérien—“Not much more than the redoubts at -Düppel.” That is to say the moats are not very deep, -and formerly the walls were also weak. The conversation -then turns on the International League of Peace -and its connection with social democracy as shown by -the fact that Karl Marx, who is now living in London, -has been appointed President of the German branch. -Bucher describes Marx as an intelligent man with a -good scientific education and the real leader of the -international labour movement. With reference to the -League of Peace the Chief says that its efforts are all -of an equivocal character, and that its aims are something -very different to peace. It is a cloak for -communism. “But,” he concludes, “certain august -personages have even now no idea of that. Foreign -countries and peace!” In this connection he referred -to the influence and attitude of Queen Augusta.</p> - -<p>Count Bill, according to the Chief, “looks from a -distance like an old staff officer, he is so stout.” He was -very lucky in being selected to accompany Manteuffel. -Of course, it would only be a temporary billet, but he -would see a great deal of the war. “For his age he has -a good opportunity to learn something. That was -impossible for one of us at eighteen. I should have -been born in 1795 to have taken part in the campaign<span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">[p. 449]</span> -of 1813.” “Nevertheless since the battle of—(I could -not catch the name, but he referred apparently to an -engagement in the Huguenot War) there was not one of -my ancestors who did not draw the sword against -France. My father and three of his brothers were -engaged against Napoleon <abbr title="1">I.</abbr> Then my grandfather -fought at Rossbach; my great-grandfather against -Louis <abbr title="14">XIV.</abbr>, and his father against the same King in -the little war on the Rhine in 1672 or 1673. Then -several of us fought on the imperial side in the Thirty -Years’ War, others, it is true, joining the Swedes. And -finally still another was amongst the Germans who -fought as mercenaries on the Huguenot side. One—there -is a picture of him at Schönhausen with his -children—was an original character. I still have a -letter from him to his brother-in-law in which he says, -‘The cask of Rhine wine costs me eighty reichsthalers. -If my worthy brother-in-law considers that too dear -I will, so God spares me, drink it myself.’ And another -time: ‘If my worthy brother-in-law maintains so-and-so, -I hope, so God preserves me, to come into closer -contact with his person than will be pleasant to him.’ -And again in another place: ‘I have spent 12,000 -reichsthalers on the regiment, but I hope, if God spares -me, to make as much out of it in time.’ The economies -referred to consisted probably in drawing pay for men -who were on furlough or who only existed on paper. -Certainly the commander of a regiment was better off -at that time than now.” Some one observed that was -also the rule at a later period, so long as regiments were -recruited, paid, and clad by the colonels and hired by -the Princes, and possibly the same thing still happened -in other countries. The Chief: “Yes, in Russia for -instance, in the great cavalry regiments in the Southern<span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">[p. 450]</span> -provinces which often have as many as sixteen squadrons. -There the colonel had, and doubtless yet has -other sources of income. A German once told me, for -instance, that on a new colonel taking over the command -of a regiment—I believe it was in Kursk or Woronesch—the -peasants of this wealthy district came to him -with waggons full of straw and hay, and begged the -‘little father’ to be gracious enough to accept them. -‘I did not know what they wanted,’ said the colonel, -‘and so I told them to be off and leave me in peace. -But the ‘little father’ ought to be fair, they urged, his -predecessor had been satisfied with that much, and they -could not give more, as they were poor people. At -length I got tired of it, particularly as they became very -pressing and went down on their knees entreating me -to accept it, and I had them bundled out of doors. -But then others came with loads of wheat and oats. -Then I understood what was meant, and took everything -as my predecessor had done, and when the first lot -returned with more hay I told them that what they had -brought before was enough and they could take back -the rest. And thus I secured an annual sum of 20,000 -roubles, as I charged the Government for the hay and -oats required by the regiment.’ He related that quite -frankly and unabashed in a drawing-room in St. Petersburg, -and I was the only one who was surprised at it.” -“But what could he have done to the peasants?” asked -Delbrück. “He himself could have done nothing,” -replied the Chief, “but he might have ruined them in -another way. He only required <em>not</em> to forbid the -soldiers to take what they liked from them.”</p> - -<p>Manteuffel was again spoken of, and somebody mentioned -that he had broken his leg at Metz, and had to be -carried on the battle-field. Manteuffel was greatly surprised<span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">[p. 451]</span> -that we had not known this, and the Minister remarked -that he must certainly have thought us very badly -informed as to the incidents of the war. Later on the -Chief said: “I remember how I sat with him and —— (I -did not catch the name) on the stones outside the Church -at Blekstein. The King came up, and I proposed that -we should greet him like the three witches in <cite>Macbeth</cite>: -‘Hail, Thane of Lauenburg! Hail, Thane of Kiel! Hail, -Thane of Schleswig!’ It was when I was negotiating -the Treaty of Gastein with Blome. I then played quinze -for the last time in my life. Although I had not played -then for a long time, I gambled recklessly, so that the -others were astounded. But I knew what I was at. -Blome had heard that quinze gave the best opportunity -of testing a man’s character, and he was anxious to try -the experiment on me. I thought to myself, I’ll teach -him. I lost a few hundred thalers, for which I might -well have claimed reimbursement from the State as -having been expended on his Majesty’s service. But I -got round Blome in that way, and made him do what I -wanted. He took me to be reckless, and yielded.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned upon Berlin, some one -having remarked that it was from year to year assuming -more the appearance of a great capital, also in its sentiments -and way of thinking, a circumstance which to -some extent reacted on its Parliamentary representatives. -“They have greatly altered during the last five years,” -said Delbrück. “That is true,” said the Chief; “but in -1862, when I first had to deal with those gentlemen, they -recognised what a hearty contempt I entertained for -them, and they have never become friends with me -again.”</p> - -<p>The Jews then came to be discussed, and the Minister -wished to know how it was that the name Meier was so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">[p. 452]</span> -common amongst them. That name was after all of -German origin, and in Westphalia it meant a landed -proprietor, yet formerly the Jews owned no land. I -submitted that the word was of Hebrew origin and -occurred in the Old Testament and also in the Talmud, -being properly Meïr and akin to “Or,” <i>i.e.</i>, light, -brilliance, whence the signification of Enlightened, -Brilliant, Radiant. The Chief then inquired the meaning -of Kohn, a name very common amongst them also. -I said it signified Priest, and was originally Kohen -From Kohen it became Kohn, Kuhn, Cahen, and Kahn. -Kohn and Kahn were also occasionally transformed into -Hahn, a remark which caused some amusement as it probably -reminded the company of the “<span lang="de">Presshahn</span>,” -who is at the head of the Berlin Literary Bureau. “I -am of opinion,” continued the Minister, “that to prevent -mischief, the Jews will have to be rendered innocuous by -cross breeding. The results are not bad.” He then -mentioned some noble houses, Lynars, Stirums, Gusserows: -“All very clever, decent people.” He then -reflected for a while and, omitting one link from the -chain of thought, probably the marriage of distinguished -Christian ladies to rich or talented Israelites, he proceeded: -“It is better the other way on. One ought to -put a Jewish mare to a Christian stallion of German -breed. The money must be brought into circulation -again, and the race is not at all bad. I do not know -what I shall one day advise my sons to do.”</p> - -<p>I spent the whole time after dinner at work, principally -reading despatches. The Rumanian (Prince -Charles) has sent the Chancellor a letter, written in -his own hand, requesting advice in his difficulties. He -seems to be in the greatest perplexity, and the Powers -will not help him. England and Austria are at least<span class="pagenum" id="Page_453">[p. 453]</span> -indifferent; the Porte is inclined to look upon the -unification of the Principalities as to its interests; -France is now of no account; the Tsar Alexander is, it -is true, well disposed to Prince Charles but will not -interfere; and intervention on the part of Germany, -who has no practical interests in Rumania, is not to be -expected. Therefore, if the Prince cannot help himself -out of his difficulties, he had better retire before he is -obliged to. Such was the counsel addressed to him by -the Chief through Keudell. Beust has been informed -of this. It would appear that Beust’s despatch in -reply to the announcement of the approaching union -of South Germany with the North, shows a new -departure in his political views, and it is possible that -even under him satisfactory relations may be developed -and maintained between the two newly-organised -Powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary. He reported -that a new comic paper, <cite lang="de">Der Bismarck</cite>, was being -founded in Vienna, and that he would do everything -in his power to prevent this abuse of the name. The -Chief has recently addressed a communication to the -King in which he requests: (1) That the telegrams of -the General Staff before being despatched to Berlin -should be submitted to him and his approval obtained, -as they might have political bearings—as, for example, -in the case of the shells that fell in the Luxemburg -Gardens. (2) That he should receive full information -of the course of military operations, instead of being -indebted for detailed particulars to the newspapers and -private persons. Subalterns and members of the -Ambulance Corps were kept better informed than he.</p> - -<p>At 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> the Chief comes down to tea, at -which Count Bill also joins us. Abeken returns from -Court and brings the news that the fortress of Péronne,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">[p. 454]</span> -with a garrison of 3,000 men, has capitulated. The Chief, -who was just looking through the <cite lang="de">Illustrirte Zeitung</cite>, -sighed and exclaimed: “Another 3,000! If one could -only drown them in the Seine—or at least their -Commander, who has broken his word of honour!”</p> - -<p>This led the conversation to the subject of the -numerous prisoners in Germany, and Holstein said it -would be a good idea to hire them out to work on the -Strousberg railway. “Or,” said the Chief, “if the -Tsar could be induced to settle them in military colonies -beyond the Caucasus. It is said to be a very fine -country. This mass of prisoners will really form a -difficulty for us after the peace. The French will thus -have an army at once, and one fresh from a long rest. -But there will really be no alternative. We shall have -to give them back to Napoleon, and he will require -200,000 men as a Pretorian Guard to maintain himself.” -“Does he then really expect to restore the -Empire?” asked Holstein. “Oh, very much,” replied -the Chief, “extremely, quite enormously much. He -thinks of it day and night, and the people in England -also.”</p> - -<p>Holstein then related how certain people belonging -to the English Embassy had behaved very unbecomingly -outside the place where the French prisoners are confined -in Spandau, and had fared badly in consequence. -Cockerell was knocked down and beaten black and blue, -so that he afterwards looked “quite as if he had been -painted.” Loftus did not at first want to intervene, -but was ultimately induced by the other diplomats to -enter a complaint. “Did they give this Cockerell a -sound hiding?” asked Count Bill. “Oh, certainly,” -replied Holstein, “and Miss —— (name escaped me), -who tried to interfere on his behalf, also received a few<span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">[p. 455]</span> -blows.” “Well, I am glad Cockerell got a proper -dressing,” said the Chief, “it will do him good. I am -sorry for the lady. But it is a pity that Loftus” (the -British Ambassador) “himself did not get thrashed on -the occasion, as we should then be rid of him.”</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, January 11th.</i>—Bernstorff reports -that Clement Duvernois, a former Minister of Napoleon, -wishes to come here in order to negotiate for peace in -the name of the Empress. She will agree in principle to -the cession of territory and the new frontier demanded -by us, and also to the payment of a war indemnity and -the occupation of a certain portion of France by our -troops until it is paid, and will promise not to enter -into negotiations respecting peace with any other Power -than Germany. Duvernois is of opinion that although -the Empress is not popular, yet she would act energetically, -and as a legal ruler would have more authority -and offer us a better security than any person elected -by and dependent upon the representatives of the -country. Duvernois assisted in provisioning Paris and -accordingly knows that it must surrender shortly, and -therefore as time presses, he is anxious to hurry on -negotiations. Will he be received if he comes? Perhaps, -if only in order to make the members of the Government -in Paris and Bordeaux more yielding.</p> - -<p>During dinner the bombardment was discussed, as is -now usually the case. Paris was said to be on fire, and -some one had clearly seen thick columns of smoke rising -over the city. “That is not enough,” said the Chief. “We -must first smell it here. When Hamburg was burning -the smell could be distinguished five German miles off.” -The opposition offered by the “Patriots” in the Bavarian -Chamber to the Versailles Treaty was then referred to. -The Chief said: “I wish I could go there and speak to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">[p. 456]</span> -them. They have obviously got into a false position -and can neither advance nor retire. I have already -been doing my best to bring them into the right way. -But one is so badly wanted here in order to prevent -absurdities and to preach sense.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, January 12th.</i>—At dinner the conversation -again turned on the bombardment. On somebody -observing that the French complain of our aiming at -their hospitals, the Chief said: “That is certainly not -done intentionally. They have hospitals near the -Pantheon and the Val de Grâce, and it is possible that -a few shells may have fallen there accidentally. H’m, -Pantheon, Pandemonium?” Abeken had heard that -the Bavarians intended to storm one of the south-eastern -forts that had returned our fire in a weak way. The -Chief commended the Bavarians, adding: “If I were -only in Munich now, I would bring that home to their -members of Parliament in such a way that I should immediately -win them over to our side.”</p> - -<p>The Chancellor then told us that the King preferred -the title “Emperor of Germany” to that of “German -Emperor.” “I gave him to understand that I did not -care a brass farthing. He was of a different opinion. -Rather the country than the people. I then explained -to him that the first would be a new title and would -at least have no historical basis. There had never been -an Emperor of Germany, and though it was true there -had also been no German Emperor, there had been a -German King.” Bucher confirmed that statement and -remarked that Charlemagne assumed the title of “<span lang="la">Imperator -Romanorum</span>.” Subsequently the Emperor was -called “<span lang="la">Imperator Romanus, semper augustus</span>, and -German King.”</p> - -<p>At 11 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> the King sent the Chief a pencil note in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">[p. 457]</span> -his own handwriting on a half sheet of letter paper, -informing him that we had just won a great victory at -Le Mans. The Minister, who was visibly pleased and -touched at this attention, said as he handed me the slip -of paper in order that I should telegraph the news: -“He thinks the General Staff will not let me know, and -so he writes himself.”</p> - -<p><i>Friday, January 13th.</i>—Arnim sends a florid account -from Rome of the visit paid by Victor Emmanuel -to the Eternal City. He mentions a report received -from the Nuncio at Bordeaux respecting an attempt by -the Government Delegation in that city to secure the -intervention of the Pope for the purpose of negotiating -a peace. The Cardinal in communicating this to the -Minister added that the French are now disposed to -make greater concessions than at Ferrières, and asked if -in principle the Pope’s mediation would be agreeable to -us. Arnim replied that the French Government knew -our conditions and could conclude peace at any time on -that basis. Arnim states that the efforts made by the -Curia on behalf of peace are sincere, but are based on -interested motives. The Cardinal asked if it was not -intended to grant France any compensation for the -proposed cession of territory, whereupon Arnim replied -that we had no right to dispose of the territory of other -States. The Cardinal obviously had Italy in view, and -meant that France should indemnify herself by annexing -Piedmont and reinstating the Pope in Rome. -The despatch concludes as follows: “My presence here -complicates our position, as it awakens hopes that cannot -be realised, and maintains intimate relations that clog -our footsteps without making the ground upon which -we stand any firmer.” Thile reports that Queen -Augusta told him the sinking of the English coal ships<span class="pagenum" id="Page_458">[p. 458]</span> -near Rouen had made more bad blood in England than -was believed here. The Crown Princess knew from the -letters of her mother that sympathy for our cause was -daily decreasing there. Thile replied that he was surprised -to hear it, as Bernstorff made no mention -of it.</p> - -<p>We are joined at dinner by Regierungspräsident von -Ernsthausen, a portly gentleman, still young, and by -the Chief, who is to dine with the Crown Prince, and -only remains until the Varzin ham comes to table, -of which he partakes “for the sake of home memories.” -Turning to Ernsthausen, he says: “I am invited to the -Crown Prince’s, but before going there I have another -important interview for which I must strengthen -myself.” “Wednesday will be the 18th, and the -Festival of the Orders, so we can publish the proclamation -to the German people on that day.” (The Proclamation -of Emperor and Empire, upon which Bucher -is now at work.) (To Ernsthausen): “The King is still -in doubt about ‘German Emperor’ or ‘Emperor of -Germany.’ He inclines to the latter. But it does not -appear to me that there is much difference between the -two titles. It is like the Homousios or Homoiousios in -the Councils of the Church.” Abeken corrected: -“Homöusios.” The Chief: “We pronounce it <i>oi</i>. In -Saxony they have the Iotacism. I remember in our -school there was a pupil from Chemnitz who read that -way” (and he then quoted a Greek sentence), “but the -teacher said to him ‘Stop! That won’t do! We don’t -hail here from Saxony.’”</p> - -<p>After dinner I read the latest despatches and some -older drafts. Those of special interest were instructions -from the Chief to the Minister of Commerce that the -amount expended for the provisioning of Paris could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">[p. 459]</span> -not be included in the Budget; and a memorandum in -which Moltke defended the supply of provisions for the -Parisians. The 2,800 waggons with provisions were, he -says, not intended solely for the Parisians, but also for -our own troops—for the former seven million rations of -two pounds each for three days—and it would be well -if there were still more waggons in France. The Chief -returned from the Crown Prince’s at 9.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, and -shortly afterwards he instructed me to telegraph that -we had made 8,000 prisoners at Le Mans, and captured -twelve guns, and that Gambetta, who wished to be -present at the battle, nearly fell into our hands, but -just made his escape in time. Afterwards I cut out -Unruh’s speech dealing with the scarcity of locomotives -on the German railways, for submission to the King.</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">[p. 460]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="17">XVII</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdgcent">LAST WEEKS BEFORE THE CAPITULATION OF PARIS</p> -</div> - -<p class="firstpara"><i>Saturday, January 14th.</i>—Count Lehndorff dined with -us to-day. The Chief mentions that Jules Favre has -written to him. He wishes to go to the Conference in -London, and asserts that he only ascertained on the -10th inst. that a safe conduct was held in readiness for -him. He desires to take with him an unmarried and a -married daughter, together with her husband—who has -a Spanish name—and a secretary. “He would doubtless -prefer a pass for <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> <span lang="fr">le Ministre et suite</span>. He has -the longing of a vagabond for a passport.” But he -is not to receive one at all, the soldiers being simply -instructed to let him through. Bucher is to write that -it will be best for him to go by way of Corbeil, as he -will not then have to leave the carriage which he brings -from Paris and to walk for some way on foot, afterwards -taking another carriage. His best route will also be by -Lagny and Metz, and not by Amiens. If he does not -wish to go by way of Corbeil he is to say so, and then -the military authorities will be instructed accordingly. -“One would be inclined to think,” added the Chief, -“from his desire to take his family with him, that he -wants to get out of harm’s way.”</p> - -<p>In the further course of conversation the Minister<span class="pagenum" id="Page_461">[p. 461]</span> -observed: “Versailles is really the most unsuitable -place that could have been chosen from the point of -view of communications. We ought to have remained -at Lagny or Ferrières. But I know well why it was -selected. All our princely personages would have found -it too dull there. It is true they are bored here too, -and doubtless everywhere else.”</p> - -<p>The Chief then went on to talk of German Princes -in general, and said: “Originally they were all Counts, -that is to say, officials of the Empire. The Zehringers, -it is true, are an old princely family—apart from any -fresh blood that has been infused into the stock. The -Austrian Princes and Counts have only become rich and -powerful through grants of confiscated estates. The -Schwarzenbergs, for instance, through the property of a -gentleman with a very unappetising name—Schmiersicki.” -The Chancellor then went into further -particulars, and continued: “They (the Hapsburgs) -were grateful for services rendered to them, and -rewarded their people with rich grants. It was different -with us. Our nobles were squeezed. Any one who had -large estates was forced to give them up or to make a -bad exchange.”</p> - -<p>The Chancellor afterwards spoke about Manteuffel, -and said: “He is now heaping up coals of fire on my -head by taking Bill with him. We were on bad terms -during the last few years. One of the reasons was his -extravagance in Schleswig. He kept a regular Court -there, and gave great dinners of forty to fifty covers, -spending three to four thousand thalers a month. That -was all very well before the war, but later on, when I -had to account for it to the Treasury Committee, it -could not go on, and when I had to tell him so, he was -angry.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_462">[p. 462]</span></p> - -<p>After dinner I wrote an article for the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite>, -under instructions from the Chief, respecting the -difficulty of provisioning Paris when it surrenders. It -ran thus: “We find the following paragraph on the -provisioning of Paris in the <cite lang="fr">Journal Officiel</cite>: ‘According -to a despatch from Bordeaux, dated January 3rd, -the Government of National Defence has collected a -large quantity of necessaries in view of furnishing Paris -with a fresh supply of provisions. In addition to the -markets now in course of erection there is already -collected, near the means of transport and beyond the -range of the enemy’s operations, a mass of supplies that -only wait the first signal to be despatched.’ When this -question of reprovisioning Paris is considered from a -practical point of view, it will be seen that it bristles -with serious difficulties. If the statement of the -<cite lang="fr">Journal Officiel</cite> that the stores are beyond the range -of the German sphere of action be correct, it must be -taken that they are some 200 miles away from Paris. -Now the condition to which the railways leading to -Paris have been reduced by the French themselves is -such that it would require several weeks at least to -transport such a quantity of provisions to Paris. There -is another consideration which must also not be overlooked, -namely, that in addition to the famishing -population of Paris, the German army has a right to -see that its supplies are replenished by the railways, -and that consequently the German officials with the -best will in the world can only spare a portion of the -rolling stock to be employed in reprovisioning Paris. It -follows that if the Parisians put off the surrender of the -city until they have eaten their last mouthful of bread, -believing that large supplies are within easy reach, a -fatal blunder may be committed. We trust that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_463">[p. 463]</span> -Government of National Defence will very seriously -consider the circumstances, and weigh well the heavy -responsibility it incurs in adopting the principle of -resistance to the bitter end. Every day increases -instead of lessening the distance between the capital -and the provincial armies, whose approach is awaited -with so much impatience in Paris, which is closely -invested and entirely cut off from the outer world. -Paris cannot be rescued by fictitious reports. To suppose -that it can wait till the last moment, for the simple -reason that neither the provinces nor the enemy could -allow a city of two and a half million inhabitants to -starve, might prove to be a terrible miscalculation, -owing to the absolute impossibility of preventing it. -The capitulation of Paris at the very last hour might—which -God forbid!—be the commencement of a really -great calamity.”</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, January 15th.</i>—Rather bright, cold -weather. The firing is less vigorous than during the -last few days. The Chief slept badly last night, and -had Wollmann called up at 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> in order to telegraph -to London respecting Favre. In the morning read -despatches. Andrassy, the Hungarian Premier, declared -to our Ambassador in Vienna that he not only approved -of Beust’s despatch of December 26th and shared the -views therein expressed respecting the new Germany, -but had desired and recommended such a policy all -along. He had “always said we should reach out our -hand to Germany and shake our fist at Russia.” The -reservation at the commencement of the document in -question might have been omitted, as the reorganisation -of Germany does not affect the Treaty of Prague.</p> - -<p>The letters in which the German Princes declare -their approval of the King of Bavaria’s proposal for the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464">[p. 464]</span> -restoration of the imperial dignity all express practically -the same views. Only the elder line of the Reuss -family was moved to base its consent upon different -grounds. It regards the imperial title as “an ornamental -badge of the dignity of the Federal Commander-in-Chief, -and of the right of Presidency.” The letter -then continues, literally: “I do this” (that is approve), -“fully confident that the bestowal of this dignity upon -his Majesty the King of Prussia will not affect the -newly-established relations of the Confederation.” Oberregierungsrath -Wagner drafted the answers to these -letters of approval, as also the proclamation to the -German people concerning the Emperor and the Empire, -which is to be published shortly. I hear that he sometimes -draws up the speech from the throne, as he has a -certain loftiness of style which the Chief likes. Read -a letter from King William to the Chancellor written in -his own hand. Contents: On the 10th of January -Prince Luitpold requested an audience of our Majesty. -This was granted to him before dinner. The Prince -then delivered a message from the King of Bavaria, -suggesting that the Bavarian army should be relieved -from taking the military oath of obedience to the -Federal Commander-in-Chief, and that the stipulation -to that effect should be struck out of the treaty with -Bavaria. The Prince urged, as an argument in support -of this proposal, that such a stipulation as that in question -limited the sovereignty of the King of Bavaria. -No such obligation had been imposed upon the South -German States during the present war, and the obedience -and loyalty of the Bavarian army might be taken -as a matter of course in the united Germany of the -future. He also observed incidentally that the reason -why the dissatisfaction in Bavaria was so great was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">[p. 465]</span> -because it had been hoped that the imperial dignity -would be held alternately by Bavaria and Prussia. The -King replied that he could not give an immediate -answer to this unforeseen demand; he must first look -through the treaties. For the moment he could only -say that by yielding in the matter of the military oath -he would offend the other Princes, and that they might -put forward a similar demand, which would loosen the -ties that were to bind the new Germany together. That -would necessarily damage the King of Bavaria’s position -in particular, as the concessions made to Bavaria were -already regarded with great disfavour by public opinion. -King William writes that he said nothing whatever -about the alternation of the imperial dignity. The Chief -telegraphed to Werther (Minister at Munich) that the -proposal respecting the military oath could not be -entertained.</p> - -<p>The Chief dined with the King to-day. Nothing -worthy of note was said at our table. After dinner I -again read drafts and despatches. Amongst the latter -was a letter from King Lewis to the Chancellor, in -which he thanks the Minister for his good wishes for -the new year, and reciprocates them. He then claims -an extension of territory on the ground of the importance -of Bavaria and the gallant co-operation of her -troops. From the construction of the sentence it is -not quite clear whether this extension of territory is -intended for Bavaria herself, but very probably it is.</p> - -<p>Called to the Chief at 9 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> I am to write an -article, based upon official documents, on our position -towards American ships conveying contraband of war. -In doing so I am to be guided by the 13th article of -the Treaty of 1799. We cannot seize such vessels, but -only detain them, or seize the contraband goods, for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_466">[p. 466]</span> -which a receipt must be given, and in both cases we -must make fair compensation.</p> - -<p><i>Monday, January 16th.</i>—Thawing. A dull sky, -with a strong south-west wind. It is again impossible -to see far, but no further shots are heard since yesterday -afternoon. Has the bombardment stopped? Or does -the wind prevent the sound from reaching us?</p> - -<p>In the morning I read Trochu’s letter to Moltke, in -which he complains that our projectiles have struck the -hospitals in the south of Paris, although flags were -hung out indicating their character. He is of opinion -that this cannot have been by accident, and calls -attention to the international treaties according to -which such institutions are to be held inviolable. -Moltke strongly resented the idea of its having been -in any way intentional. The humane manner in which -we have conducted the war, “so far as the character -which was given to it by the French since the 4th of -September permitted,” secured us against any such -suspicion. As soon as a clearer atmosphere and greater -proximity to Paris enabled us to recognise the Geneva -flag on the buildings in question it might be possible -to avoid even accidental injury. Treitschke writes -requesting me to ask the Chief if, in view of his deafness, -he should allow himself to be elected for the -Reichstag. I lay the letter before the Minister, who -says: “He must know from experience how far his -infirmity is a hindrance. For my part, I should be -extremely pleased if he were elected. Write him to -that effect. Only he should not speak too much.”</p> - -<p>Prince Pless and Maltzahn dine with us. We learn -that the proclamation to the German people is to be -read the day after to-morrow, at the festival of the -Orders, which will be held in the Gallerie des Glaces at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_467">[p. 467]</span> -the Palace. There, in the midst of a brilliant assembly, -the King will be proclaimed Emperor. Detachments -of troops with their flags, the generals, the Chancellor -of the Confederation, and a number of princely personages -will attend. The Chief has altered his mind -as to letting Favre pass through our lines, and has -written him a letter which amounts to a refusal. -“Favre,” he said “with his demand to be allowed to -attend the Conference in London, reminds me of the -way children play the game of Fox in the Hole. They -touch and then run off to a place where they cannot -be caught. But he must swallow the potion he has -brewed. His honour requires it, and, so I wrote him.” -This change of view was due to Favre’s circular of the -12th of January. Later on, the Chief said he believed -he was going to have an attack of gout. Altogether -he was not in good humour. While he was reckoning -up the fortresses taken by us, Holstein addressed a -remark to him. The Chief looked straight at him with -his large grey eyes, and said in a dry cutting tone: -“One should not be interrupted when engaged in -counting. I have now lost count altogether. What -you want to say might be said later.”</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>I here introduce a survey of this incident, with -particulars of documents which afterwards came to my -knowledge.</p> - -<p>Favre, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, was informed -on the 17th of November (in a despatch from -Chaudordy, dated from Tours, on the 11th of the month), -that it had been reported from Vienna, that the Russian -Government no longer considered itself bound by the -stipulations of the Treaty of 1856. Favre replied -immediately. While recommending the strictest reserve,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_468">[p. 468]</span> -until the receipt of official information, he said -that no opportunity should be neglected of emphasising -the right of France, to take part in such international -deliberations as the Russian declaration might provoke. -Negotiations were then conducted, both verbally, and -in writing, between the various Powers and the French -Provisional Government, in which the French endeavoured -to induce the representatives of those -Powers to admit the justice of their contention, that -the representatives of France “would be bound in duty -to bring up at the same time for discussion another -matter of entirely different import.” The Delegation -at Tours, while giving expression to these views, was -of opinion that any invitation given by Europe should -be accepted, even, should no promise be obtained beforehand, -nor even an armistice. On the 31st of December, -Gambetta wrote to Favre: “You must be prepared to -leave Paris, to attend the London Conference if, as is -stated, England has succeeded in obtaining a passport.” -Before this communication arrived, Favre had announced -to Chaudordy that the Government had decided -that France, “if called upon in regular form,” would -send a representative to the London Conference, provided -its Parisian representatives, who were verbally -invited by England, were supplied with the necessary -passport. To this the English Cabinet agreed, and -Chaudordy informed Favre in a despatch which arrived -in Paris on the 8th of January, and also contained the -announcement, that he, Favre, had been appointed by -the Government to represent France at the Conference. -This communication was confirmed in a letter from -Lord Granville to Favre, dated the 29th of December, -and received in Paris, on the 10th of January, which -ran as follows:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_469">[p. 469]</span></p> - -<p>“M. de Chaudordy has informed Lord Lyons that -your Excellency has been proposed as the representative -of France at the Conference. He has at the same -time requested that I should procure a passport permitting -your Excellency to go through the Prussian -lines. I immediately requested Count Bernstorff to -ask for such a passport, and to send it to you by a -German officer with a flag of truce. I was informed -yesterday by Count Bernstorff that a passport will be -at your Excellency’s disposal on its being demanded at -the German headquarters by an officer despatched from -Paris for the purpose. He added that it cannot be -delivered by a German officer, so long as satisfaction is -not given to the officer who was fired at while acting -as the bearer of a flag of truce. I am informed by -M. Tissot, that much time would be lost before this -communication could be forwarded to you by the delegation -at Bordeaux, and I have accordingly proposed -to Count Bernstorff another way in which it may be -transmitted to you. Requesting your Excellency to -permit me to take this opportunity of expressing my -satisfaction at entering into personal communication -with you, &c.”</p> - -<p>Favre regarded the last sentence in this letter as a -recognition of the present French Government, and an -invitation that he might take advantage of to address -the Powers in London on French affairs. In the circular -of the 12th of January which he addressed to the -French Ministers, he says:—</p> - -<p>“The Government, directly invited in this despatch, -cannot, without surrendering the rights of France, refuse -the invitation thus conveyed to her. It may certainly -be objected that the time for a discussion concerning -the neutralisation of the Black Sea has not been happily<span class="pagenum" id="Page_470">[p. 470]</span> -chosen. But the very fact that the European Powers -should thus have entered into relations with the French -Republic at the present decisive moment when France -is fighting single-handled for her honour and existence, -lends it an exceptional significance. It is the commencement -of a tardy exercise of justice, an obligation -which cannot again be renounced. It endues the -change of Government with the authority of international -law, and leaves a nation which is free notwithstanding -its wounds to appear in an independent -position upon the stage of the world’s history, face to -face with the ruler who led it to its ruin, and the Pretenders -who desire to reduce it into subjection to themselves. -Furthermore, who does not feel that France, -admitted to a place amongst the representatives of -Europe, has an unquestionable right to raise her voice -in that council? Who can prevent her, supported by -the eternal laws of justice, from defending the principles -that secure her independence and dignity? She will -surrender none of those principles. Our programme -remains unaltered, and Europe, who has invited the -man who promulgated that programme, knows very -well that it is his determination and duty to maintain -it. There should, therefore, be no hesitation, and the -Government would have committed a grave error if it -had declined the overtures made to it.</p> - -<p>“While recognising that fact, however, the Government -consider, as I do, that the Minister for Foreign -Affairs should not leave Paris during the bombardment -of the city by the enemy, unless greater interests were -at stake.” (Then follows a long sentimental lamentation -as to the damage caused by the “rage of the -aggressor” in throwing bombs into churches, hospitals, -nurseries, &c., with the intention of “spreading terror.”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_471">[p. 471]</span> -The document then proceeds): “Our brave Parisian -population feels its courage rise as the danger increases. -Thus exasperated and indignant, but animated by a -firm resolve, it will not yield. The people are more -determined than ever to fight and conquer, and we also. -<em>I cannot think of separating myself from them during -this crisis.</em> Perhaps it will soon be brought to a close -by the protests addressed to Europe and to the members -of the Corps Diplomatique present in Paris. <em>England -will understand that until then my place is in the -midst of my fellow citizens.</em>”</p> - -<p>Favre made the same declaration, or rather the first -half of it, two days before in the reply sent to Granville’s -despatch, in which he says: “I cannot assume -the right to leave my fellow citizens at a moment when -they are subjected to such acts of violence” (against -“an unarmed population,” as—in the line immediately -preceding—he describes a strong fortress with a garrison -of about 200,000 soldiers and militia). He then continues: -“Communications between Paris and London, -thanks to those in command of the besieging forces” -(what naïveté!) “are so slow and uncertain that with -the best will I cannot act in accordance with the terms -of the invitation contained in your despatch. You -have given me to understand that the Conference will -meet on the 3rd of February, and will then probably -adjourn for a week. Having received this information -on the evening of the 10th of January, I should not be -able to avail myself in time of your invitation. Besides, -M. de Bismarck, in forwarding the despatch, did not -enclose the passport, which, nevertheless, is absolutely -essential. He demands that a French officer shall proceed -to the German headquarters to receive it, on the -plea of a complaint addressed to the Governor of Paris<span class="pagenum" id="Page_472">[p. 472]</span> -with regard to the treatment of the bearer of a flag of -truce, an incident which occurred on the 23rd of -December. <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> de Bismarck adds that the Prussian -Commander-in-Chief has forbidden all communication -under flags of truce until satisfaction is given for the -incident in question. I do not inquire whether such a -decision, contrary to the laws of war, is not an absolute -denial of a higher right, always hitherto maintained in -the conduct of hostilities, which recognises the exigencies -of a situation and the claims of humane feeling. I -confine myself to informing your Excellency that the -Governor of Paris hastened to order an inquiry into the -incident referred to by <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> de Bismarck, and that this -inquiry brought to his knowledge much more numerous -instances of similar conduct on the part of Prussian -sentries which had never been made a pretext for -interrupting the usual exchange of communications. -M. de Bismarck appears to have acknowledged the -accuracy of these remarks, at least in part, as he has -to-day commissioned the United States Minister to -inform me that, with the reservation of inquiries on -both sides, he to-day re-establishes communications -under flags of truce. There is, therefore, no necessity -for a French officer to go to the Prussian headquarters. -I will put myself in communication with the Minister of -the United States for the purpose of receiving the passport -which you have obtained for me. As soon as it -reaches my hands, <em>and the situation in Paris permits -me</em>, I shall proceed to London, confident that I shall -not appeal in vain in the name of my Government to -the principles of justice and morality, in securing due -regard for which Europe has such a great interest.”</p> - -<p>So far <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Favre. The condition of Paris had not -altered, the protests addressed to Europe had not put<span class="pagenum" id="Page_473">[p. 473]</span> -an end to the crisis, nor could they have done so, when -Favre, on January 13th, that is, three days after the -letter to Granville, and on the day of the issue of his -circular to the representatives of France abroad, sent -the following despatch to the Chancellor of the Confederation:—</p> - -<p>“<span lang="fr">M. le Comte</span>,—Lord Granville informs me in his -despatch of December 29th, which I received on the -evening of January 10th, that your Excellency, at the -request of the English Cabinet, holds a passport at my -disposal which is necessary to enable the French Plenipotentiary -to the London Conference to pass through -the Prussian lines. As I have been appointed to that -office, I have the honour to request your Excellency to -give instructions to have this passport, made out in my -name, sent to me as speedily as possible.”</p> - -<p>I reproduce all these solely with the object of illustrating -the great difference between the character and -capacity of Favre and of Bismarck. Compare the -foregoing documents with those which the Chancellor -drafted. In the former, indecision, equivocation, -affectation, and fine phrases, ending in the very -opposite of what had been emphatically laid down a -few lines or a few days previously. In the latter, on -the contrary, decision, simplicity, and a natural and -purely business-like manner. On January 16th the -Chancellor replied to Favre as follows (omitting the -introductory phrases):—</p> - -<p>“Your Excellency understands that, at the suggestion -of the Government of Great Britain, I hold a -passport at your disposal for the purpose of enabling -you to take part in the London Conference. That -supposition is, however, not correct. I could not enter -into official negotiations, which would be based on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_474">[p. 474]</span> -presupposition that the Government of National Defence -is, according to international law, in a position to -act in the name of France, so long at least as it has not -been recognised by the French nation itself.</p> - -<p>“I presume that the officer in command of our -outposts would have granted your Excellency permission -to pass through the German lines if your -Excellency had applied for the same at the headquarters -of the besieging forces. The latter would have had no -reason to take your Excellency’s political position and -the object of your journey into consideration, and the -authorisation granted by the military authorities to -pass through our lines, which, from their standpoint, -they need not have hesitated to grant, would have left -the Ambassador of his Majesty the King in London a -free hand to deal without prejudice with the question -whether, according to international law, your Excellency’s -declarations could be accepted as the declarations -of France. Your Excellency has rendered the -adoption of such a course impossible by officially -communicating to me the object of your journey, and -the official request for a passport for the purpose of -representing France at the Conference. The above-mentioned -political considerations, in support of which -I must adduce the declaration which your Excellency -has published, forbid me to accede to your request for -such a document.</p> - -<p>“In addressing this communication to you, I must -leave it to yourself and your Government to consider -whether it is possible to find another way in which the -scruples above mentioned may be overcome, and all -prejudice arising from your presence in London may be -avoided.</p> - -<p>“But even if some such way should be discovered, I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_475">[p. 475]</span> -take the liberty to question whether it is advisable for -your Excellency at the present moment to leave Paris -and your post as a member of the Government there, -in order to take part in a Conference on the question of -the Black Sea, at a time when interests of much greater -importance to France and Germany than Article <abbr title="11">XI.</abbr> of -the Treaty of 1856 are at stake in Paris. Your Excellency -would also leave behind you in Paris the agents -of neutral States and the members of their staffs who -have remained there, or rather been kept there, notwithstanding -the fact that they have long since obtained -permission to pass through the German lines, -and are therefore the more specially committed to the -protection and care of your Excellency as the Minister -for Foreign Affairs of the <i lang="la">de facto</i> Government.</p> - -<p>“I can hardly believe that in a critical situation, <em>to -the creation of which you have so largely contributed</em>, -your Excellency will deprive yourself of the possibility -of co-operating towards that solution, for which you are -equally responsible.”</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>I now let the diary resume its narrative.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, January 17th.</i>—We were joined at dinner -by the Saxon, Count Nostitz-Wallwitz, who, it is understood, -is to take up an administrative appointment here, -and a Herr Winter, or von Winter, who is to be Prefect at -Chartres. On some one referring to the future military -operations, the Chief observed: “I think that when, -with God’s help, we have taken Paris, we shall not -occupy it with our troops. That work may be left to -the National Guard in the city. Also a French commandant. -We shall occupy merely the forts and walls. -Everybody will be permitted to enter, but nobody to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_476">[p. 476]</span> -leave. It will, therefore, be a great prison until they -consent to make peace.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then spoke to Nostitz about the French -<span lang="fr">Conseils Généraux</span>, and said we should try to come to -an understanding with them. They would form a good -field here for further political operations. “So far as -the military side of the affair is concerned,” he continued, -“I am in favour of greater concentration. We should -not go beyond a certain line, but deal with that portion -thoroughly, making the administration effectual, and in -particular collect the taxes. The military authorities -are always for advancing. They have a centrifugal -plan of operations and I a centripetal. It is a question -whether we ought to hold Orleans, and even whether it -would not be better to retire also from Rouen and -Amiens. In the south-east—I do not know why—they -want to go as far as Dijon. And if we cannot supply -garrisons for every place within our sphere of occupation, -we should from time to time send a flying column -wherever they show themselves recalcitrant, and shoot, -hang and burn. When that has been done a couple of -times they will learn sense.” Winter was of opinion -that the mere appearance of a detachment of troops -entrusted with the task of restoring order, would be -sufficient in such districts. The Chief: “I am not so -sure. A little hanging would certainly have a better -effect, and a few shells thrown in and a couple of houses -burned down. That reminds me of the Bavarian who -said to a Prussian officer of artillery: ‘What do you -think, comrade; shall we set that little village on fire, -or only knock it about a little?’ but they decided after -all to set it on fire.”</p> - -<p>I do not now remember how it was that the Chief -came to speak again of his letter he wrote yesterday to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_477">[p. 477]</span> -Favre. “I have given him clearly to understand that -it would not do, and that I could not believe that he -who had taken part in the affair of the 4th of September -would fail to await the issue. I wrote the letter in -French, first because I do not regard the correspondence -as official but rather as private, and then in order that -every one may be able to read it in the French lines -until it reaches him.” Nostitz asked how diplomatic -correspondence in general was now conducted. The -Chief: “In German. Formerly it was in French. But -I have introduced German—only, however, with Cabinets -whose language is understood in our own Foreign Office. -England, Italy and also Spain—even Spanish can be -read in case of need. Not with Russia, as I am the only -one in the Foreign Office who understands Russian. -Also not with Holland, Denmark and Sweden—people -do not learn those languages as a rule. They write in -French and we reply in the same language.” “At -Ferrières I spoke to Thiers” (he meant Favre) “in -French. But I told him that was only because I was -not treating with him officially. He laughed, whereupon -I said to him: ‘You will see that we shall talk -plain German to you in the negotiations for peace.’”</p> - -<p>At tea we hear from Holstein that the bombardment -on the south side has been stopped, Blumenthal, who -was always against it, having got his way. It is hoped, -however, that the Crown Prince of Saxony will proceed -vigorously with the bombardment on the north side. -One would like to tell this to our own Crown Prince, -and to ask him what would be said when it was known -that the Saxons had forced Paris to capitulate? “Unless -you are quite certain of that,” said Wagener, “and have -it on absolutely trustworthy authority, do not let the -Chief hear of it. I should not like to guarantee that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_478">[p. 478]</span> -in that case he would not be off to-morrow. He is a -volcano whose action is incalculable, and he does not -stand jokes in such matters.” Holstein, however, appears -to have been misinformed. At least Count -Dönhoff, who came in afterwards, declared that our -siege guns in the south were also at work, but that -owing to the south-west wind we did not hear the firing, -and, moreover, it was not so heavy as during the preceding -days. Fire would probably be opened to-morrow from -St. Denis upon the city, a pleasant surprise for the -inhabitants of the northern quarters.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, January 18th.</i>—In the morning read -despatches and newspapers. Wollmann tells me that an -order has been issued promoting our Chief to the rank of -Lieutenant-General. When Wollmann took the order -up to him and congratulated him, the Chancellor threw -it angrily on the bed and said: “What is the good of -that to me?” (“<i lang="de">Wat ik mich davor koofe?</i>”—low -German dialect.) Doubtless imagination, but it appears -to be correct that the Minister is to-day in very bad -humour and exceptionally irritable.</p> - -<p>The festival of the Orders and the Proclamation of -the German Empire and Emperor took place in the great -hall of the palace between 12 and 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> It was -held with much military pomp and ceremony, and is -said to have been a very magnificent and imposing -spectacle. In the meantime I took a long walk with -Wollmann.</p> - -<p>The Chief did not dine with us, as he was bidden to -the Emperor’s table. On his return I was called to -him twice to receive instructions. His voice was an -unusually weak voice, and looked very tired and worn -out.</p> - -<p>The Chief has received a communication from a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_479">[p. 479]</span> -number of diplomats who have remained behind in -Paris. Kern, the Swiss Minister, who is their spokesman, -requests the Chancellor to use his influence in -order to obtain permission for the persons committed to -their protection to leave the city. At the same time -our right to bombard Paris is questioned, and it is insinuated -that we intentionally fire at buildings that -ought to be respected. The reply is to point out that -we have already repeatedly, through their diplomatic -representatives, called the attention of the citizens of -neutral states living in Paris to the consequences of the -city’s prolonged resistance. This was done as early as -the end of September, and again several times in -October. Furthermore, we have for months past allowed -every citizen of a neutral State, who was able to give -evidence of his nationality, to pass through our lines -without any difficulty. At the present time, for military -reasons, we can only extend that permission to members -of the Corps Diplomatique. It is not our fault if -subjects of neutral states have not hitherto availed -themselves of the permission to seek a place of safety -for their persons and their property. Either they have -not wished to leave, or they have not been allowed to -do so by those who at present hold power in Paris. We -are fully justified by international law in bombarding -Paris, as it is a fortress, the principal fortress of France—an -entrenched camp which serves the enemy as a base -of offensive and defensive action against our armies. -Our generals cannot, therefore, be expected to refrain -from attacking it, or to handle it with velvet gloves. -Furthermore, the object of the bombardment is not to -destroy the city, but to capture the fortress. If our fire -renders residence in Paris uncomfortable and dangerous, -those who recognise that fact ought not to have gone to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_480">[p. 480]</span> -live in a fortified town, or should not have remained -there. They may, therefore, address their complaints -not to us, but to those who transformed Paris into a -fortress, and who now use its fortifications as an instrument -of war against us. Finally, our artillery does not -intentionally fire at private houses and benevolent institutions, -such as hospitals, &c. That should be understood -as a matter of course from the care with which we -have observed the provisions of the Geneva Convention. -Such accidents as do occur are due to the great distance -at which we are firing. It cannot, however, be tolerated -that Paris, which has been and still is the chief centre -of military resistance, should bring forward these cases -as an argument for forbidding the vigorous bombardment -which is intended to render the city untenable. -Wrote articles to the above effect.</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, January 19th.</i>—Dull weather. The post -has not been delivered, and it is ascertained on inquiry -that the railway line has been destroyed at a place called -Vitry la Ville, near Châlons. From 10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> we hear a -rather vigorous cannonade, in which field guns ultimately -join. I write two articles on the sentimental -report of the <cite lang="fr">Journal des Débats</cite>, according to which -our shells only strike ambulances, mothers with their -daughters, and babies in swaddling clothes. What evil-minded -shells!</p> - -<p>Keudell tells us at lunch that to-day’s cannonade -was directed against a great sortie with twenty-four -battalions and numerous guns in the direction of La -Celle and Saint Cloud. In my room after lunch -Wollmann treats me to a number of anecdotes of -doubtful authenticity. According to him the Chief -yesterday remarked to the King, when his Majesty -changed the Minister’s title to that of Chancellor of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_481">[p. 481]</span> -Empire, that this new title brought him into bad -company. To which the King replied that the bad -company would be transformed into good company on -his joining it. (From whom can Wollmann have -heard that?) My gossip also informs me that the King -made a slip of the tongue yesterday at the palace, when -in announcing his assumption of the title of Emperor -he added the words “by the Grace of God.” This -requires to be confirmed by some more trustworthy -authority. Another story of Wollmann’s seems more -probable, namely, that the Minister sends in a written -request to the King, almost every day, to be supplied -with the reports of the General Staff respecting the -English coal ships sunk by our people near Rouen. He -used in the same way to telegraph day after day to -Eulenburg who has always been very dilatory: “What -about Villiers?” And before that in Berlin he had a -request addressed to Eulenburg at least once every -week: Would he kindly have the draft of the district -regulations sent forward as early as possible?</p> - -<p>Towards 2 o’clock, when the rattle of the mitrailleuse -could be clearly distinguished, and the French artillery -was at the outside only half a German mile in a straight -line from Versailles, the Chief rode out to the aqueduct -at Marly, whither the King and the Crown Prince were -understood to have gone.</p> - -<p>The affair must have caused some anxiety at -Versailles in the meantime, as we see that the Bavarian -troops have been called out. They are posted in large -masses in the Place d’Armes and the Avenue de Paris. -The French are camped, sixty thousand strong it is -said, beneath Mont Valérien and in the fields to the -east of it. They are understood to have captured the -Montretout redoubt, and the village of Garches to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_482">[p. 482]</span> -west of Saint Cloud, which is not much more than -three-quarters of an hour from here, is also in their -hands. They may, it is feared, advance further to-morrow -and oblige us to withdraw from Versailles, but -this seems to be at least an exaggeration. At dinner -there is scarcely any talk of immediate danger. -Geheimrath von Löper, who is understood to be -Under Secretary in the Ministry of the Royal Household, -dines with us. We hear that there is no longer -any danger for our communications in the south-east, -as Bourbaki, after pressing Werder very hard for three -days without however being able to defeat him, has -given up the attempt to relieve Belfort and is now in -full retreat, probably owing to the approach of Manteuffel. -The Chief then refers to a report that the taxes cannot -be collected in various districts of the occupied territory. -He says it is difficult, indeed impossible, to garrison -every place where the population must be made to pay -the taxes. “Nor,” he adds, “is it necessary to do -so? Flying columns of infantry accompanied by a -couple of guns are all that is needed. Without even -entering into the places, the people should be simply -told, ‘If you do not produce the taxes in arrear within -two hours we shall pitch some shells in amongst you.’ -If they see that we are in earnest they will pay. If -not the place should be bombarded, and that would -help in other cases. They must learn what war means.”</p> - -<p>The conversation afterwards turned on the grants -that were to be expected after the conclusion of peace, -and alluding to those made in 1866, the Chief said, -<i lang="la">inter alia</i>: “They should not be grants of money. -I at least was reluctant for a long time to accept one, -but at length I yielded to the temptation. Besides, -it was worse still in my case, as I received it not from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_483">[p. 483]</span> -the King but from the Diet. I did not want to take -any money from people with whom I had fought so -bitterly for years.</p> - -<p>“Moreover, the King was to some extent in my debt, -as I had sent him forty pounds of fine fresh caviare—a -present for which he made me no return. It is true -that perhaps he never received it. Probably that fat -rascal Borck intercepted it.” “These rewards ought to -have taken the form of grants of land, as in 1815; and -there was a good opportunity of doing so, particularly -in the corner of Bavaria which we acquired, and which -consisted almost entirely of State property.”</p> - -<p>While we were alone at tea, Bucher told me that -“before the war he had a good deal to do with the -Spanish affair.” (This was not exactly news to me, as I -remembered that long before that he suddenly ordered -the <cite lang="es">Imparcial</cite>, and gave directions for various articles -directed against Montpensier.) He had negotiated in -the matter with the Hohenzollerns, father and son, and -had also spoken to the King on the affair in an audience -of one hour’s duration which he had had with him at -Ems.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, January 20th.</i>—I am called to the Chief at -12 o’clock. He wishes to have his reply to Kern’s communication, -and the letter in which he declined to -supply Favre with a passport, published in the -<cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite>.</p> - -<p>Bohlen again came to dinner, at which we were also -joined by Lauer and von Knobelsdorff. The Chief was -very cheerful and talkative. He related, amongst other -things, that while he was at Frankfurt he frequently -received and accepted invitations from the Grand Ducal -Court at Darmstadt. They had excellent shooting there. -“But,” he added, “I have reason to believe that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_484">[p. 484]</span> -Grand Duchess Mathilde did not like me. She said to -some one at that time: ‘He always stands there and -looks as important as if he were the Grand Duke himself.’”</p> - -<p>While we were smoking our cigars, the Crown -Prince’s aide-de-camp suddenly appeared, and reported -that Count —— (I could not catch the name) had come, -ostensibly on behalf of, and under instructions from, -Trochu, to ask for a two days’ armistice in order to -remove the wounded and bury those who fell in yesterday’s -engagement. The Chief replied that the request -should be refused. A few hours would be sufficient for -the removal of the wounded and the burial of the dead; -and, besides, the latter were just as well off lying on -the ground as they would be under it. The Major -returned shortly afterwards and announced that the -King would come here; and, hardly a quarter of an -hour later, his Majesty arrived with the Crown Prince. -They went with the Chancellor into the drawing-room, -where a negative answer was prepared for Trochu’s -messenger.</p> - -<p>About 9 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> Bucher sent me up a couple of lines in -pencil to the effect that the letter to Kern should be -published in the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> to-morrow, but that the -communication to Favre should be held over for the -present.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, January 21st.</i>—At 9.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> -is delivered, and contains the Chief’s letter to Favre. -Very disagreeable; but I suppose my letter to Bamberg -only arrived after the paper was printed. At 10 o’clock -I am called to the Minister, who says nothing about this -mishap, although he has the newspaper before him. He -is still in bed, and wishes the protest of the Comte de -Chambord against the bombardment cut out for the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_485">[p. 485]</span> -King. I then write an article for the <cite lang="de">Kölnische Zeitung</cite>, -and a paragraph for the local journal.</p> - -<p>Voigts-Rhetz, Prince Putbus, and the Bavarian Count -Berghem were the Chancellor’s guests at dinner. The -Bavarian brought the pleasant news that the Versailles -treaties were carried in the second chamber at Munich -by two votes over the necessary two-thirds majority. -The German Empire was, therefore, complete in every -respect. Thereupon the Chief invited the company to -drink the health of the King of Bavaria, “who, after all, -has really helped us through to a successful conclusion.” -“I always thought that it would be carried,” he added, -“if only by one vote—but I had not hoped for two. -The last good news from the seat of war will doubtless -have contributed to the result.”</p> - -<p>It was then mentioned that in the engagement the -day before yesterday the French brought a much larger -force against us than was thought at first, probably -over 80,000 men. The Montretout redoubt was -actually in their hands for some hours, and also a -portion of Garches and Saint Cloud. The French had -lost enormously in storming the position—it was said -1,200 dead and 4,000 wounded. The Chancellor observed: -“The capitulation must follow soon. I imagine -it may be even next week. After the capitulation we -shall supply them with provisions as a matter of course. -But before they deliver up 700,000 rifles and 4,000 -guns they shall not get a single mouthful of bread—and -then no one shall be allowed to leave. We shall -occupy the forts and the walls and keep them on short -commons until they accommodate themselves to a peace -satisfactory to us. After all there are still many persons -of intelligence and consideration in Paris with whom -it must be possible to come to some arrangement.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_486">[p. 486]</span></p> - -<p>Then followed a learned discussion on the difference -between the titles “German Emperor” and “Emperor -of Germany,” and that of “Emperor of the Germans” -was also mooted. After this had gone on for a while -the Chief, who had taken no part in it, asked: “Does -any one know the Latin word for sausage (Wurscht)?” -Abeken answered “<span lang="la">Farcimentum</span>,” and I said “<span lang="la">Farcimen</span>.” -The Chief, smiling: “<span lang="la">Farcimentum</span> or <span lang="la">farcimen</span>, -it is all the same to me. <i lang="la">Nescio quid mihi magis -farcimentum esset.</i>” (“<i lang="de">Es ist mir Wurst</i>” is student’s -slang, and means “It is a matter of the utmost indifference -to me.”)</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, January 22nd.</i>—In the forenoon I wrote -two paragraphs for the German newspapers, and one -for the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite>, in connection with which I was twice -called to see the Chief.</p> - -<p>Von Könneritz, a Saxon, General von Stosch, and -Löper joined us at dinner. There was nothing worth -noting in the conversation except that the Minister -again insisted that it would be only fair to invest the -wounded with the Iron Cross. “The Coburger,” he -went on, “said to me the other day, ‘It would really -be a satisfaction if the soldiers also got the Cross now.’ -I replied, ‘Yes, but it is less satisfactory that we two -should have received it.’”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, January 23rd.</i>—I telegraph that the -bombardment on the north side has made good progress, -that the fort at Saint Denis has been silenced, and that -an outbreak of fire has been observed in Saint Denis -itself as well as in Paris. All our batteries are firing -vigorously, although one cannot hear them. So we are -told by Lieutenant von Uslar, of the Hussars, who -brings a letter to the Chief from Favre. What can he -want?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_487">[p. 487]</span></p> - -<p>Shortly after 7 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> Favre arrived, and the Chancellor -had an interview with him, which lasted about -two and a half hours. In the meantime Hatzfeldt and -Bismarck-Bohlen conversed down stairs in the drawing-room -with the gentleman who accompanied Favre, and -who is understood to be his son-in-law, del Rio. He is -a portrait painter by profession, but came with his -father-in-law in the capacity of secretary. Both were -treated to a hastily improvised meal, consisting of -cutlets, scrambled eggs, ham, &c., which will doubtless -have been welcome to these poor martyrs to their own -obstinacy. Shortly after 10 o’clock they drove off, -accompanied by Hatzfeldt, to the lodgings assigned to -them in a house on the Boulevard du Roi, where Stieber -and the military police also happen to have their -quarters. Hatzfeldt accompanied the gentlemen there. -Favre looked very depressed.</p> - -<p>The Chief drove off to see the King at 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, -returning in about three-quarters of an hour. He looks -exceedingly pleased as he enters the room where we are -sitting at tea. He first asks me to pour him out a cup -of tea, and he eats a few mouthfuls of bread with it. -After a while he says to his cousin, “Do you know -this?” and then whistled a short tune, the signal of the -hunter that he has brought down the deer. Bohlen -replies, “Yes, in at the death.” The Chief: “No, this -way,” and he whistled again. “A <i>hallali</i>,” he adds. -“I think the thing is finished.” Bohlen remarked -that Favre looked “awfully shabby.” The Chief said: -“I find he has grown much greyer than when I saw him -at Ferrières—also stouter, probably on horseflesh. -Otherwise he looks like one who has been through a -great deal of trouble and excitement lately, and to -whom everything is now indifferent. Moreover, he was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_488">[p. 488]</span> -very frank, and confessed that things are not going on -well in Paris. I also ascertained from him that Trochu has -been superseded. Vinoy is now in command of the -city.” Bohlen then related that Martinez del Rio was -exceedingly reserved. They, for their part, had not -tried to pump him; but they once inquired how things -were going on at the Villa Rothschild in the Bois de -Boulogne, where Thiers said the General Staff of the -Paris army was quartered. Del Rio answered curtly -that he did not know. For the rest, they had talked -solely about high-class restaurants in Paris, which, they -acknowledged, was an unmannerly thing to do. Hatzfeldt -on his return, after conducting the two Parisians to -their lodgings, reported that Favre was glad to have -arrived after dark, and that he does not wish to go out -in the daytime in order not to create a sensation, and -to avoid being pestered by the Versailles people.</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, January 24th.</i>—The Chief gets up before -9 o’clock and works with Abeken. Shortly before 10 -he drives off to see the King, or, let us now say, the -Emperor. It is nearly 1 o’clock when he returns. We -are still at lunch, and he sits down and takes some -roast ham and a glass of Tivoli beer. After a while he -heaves a sigh and says: “Until now I always thought -that Parliamentary negotiations were the slowest of all, -but I no longer think so. There was at least one way -of escape there—to move ‘that the question should be -now put.’ But here everybody says whatever occurs -to him, and when one imagines the matter is finally -settled, somebody brings forward an argument that has -already been disposed of, and so the whole thing has -to be gone over again, which is quite hopeless. That -is stewing thought to rags—mere flatulence which people -ought really to be able to restrain. Well, it’s all the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_489">[p. 489]</span> -same to me! I even prefer that nothing should have -been yet decided or shall be decided till to-morrow. It -is merely the waste of time in having to listen to them, -but of course such people do not think of that.” The -Chief then said that he expected Favre to call upon him -again, and that he had advised him to leave at 3 o’clock -(Favre wishes to return to Paris) “on account of the -soldiers who would challenge him after dark, and to -whom he could not reply.”</p> - -<p>Favre arrived at 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> and spent nearly two -hours in negotiation with the Chancellor. He afterwards -drove off towards Paris, being accompanied by Bismarck-Bohlen -as far as the bridge at Sèvres.</p> - -<p>These negotiations were not mentioned at dinner. -It would appear, however, to be a matter of course that -the preliminaries of the capitulation were discussed. -The Chief spoke at first of Bernstorff, and said: “Anyhow, -that is a thing I have never yet been able to -manage—to fill page after page of foolscap with the -most insignificant twaddle. A pile so high has come -in again to-day”—he pointed with his hand—“and -then the back references: ‘As I had the honour to -report in my despatch of January 3rd, 1863, No. so-and-so; -as I announced most obediently in my telegram -No. 1666.’ I send them to the King, and he wants to -know what Bernstorff means, and always writes in pencil -on the margin, ‘Don’t understand this. This is awful!’” -Somebody observed that it was only Goltz who wrote -as much as Bernstorff: “Yes,” said the Chief, “and in -addition he often sent me private letters that filled six -to eight closely-written sheets. He must have had a -terrible amount of spare time. Fortunately I fell out -with him, and then that blessing ceased.” One of the -company wondered, what Goltz would say if he now<span class="pagenum" id="Page_490">[p. 490]</span> -heard that the Emperor was a prisoner, and the Empress -in London, while Paris was being besieged and bombarded -by us. “Well,” replied the Chief, “he was not -so desperately attached to the Emperor—but the -Empress in London! Nevertheless, in spite of his -devotion to her, he would not have given himself away -as Werther did.”</p> - -<p>The death of a Belgian Princess having been -mentioned, Abeken, as in duty bound, expressed his -grief at the event. The Chief said: “How can that -affect you so much? To my knowledge, there is no -Belgian here at table, nor even a cousin.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then related that Favre complained of -our firing at the sick and blind—that is to say, the -blind asylum. “I said to him, ‘I really do not see -what you have to complain about. You yourselves do -much worse, seeing that you shoot at our sound and -healthy men.’ He will have thought: What a barbarian!” -Hohenlohe’s name was then mentioned, and -it was said that much of the success of the bombardment -was due to him. The Chief: “I shall propose for him -the title of Poliorketes.” The conversation then turned -on the statues and paintings of the Restoration, and their -artificiality and bad taste. “I remember,” said the -Chief, “that Schuckmann, the Minister, was painted by -his wife, <i lang="fr">en coquille</i> I think it was called at that time, -that is, in a rose-coloured shell, and wearing a kind of -antique costume. He was naked down to the waist—I -had never seen him like that.” “That is one of my -earliest remembrances. They often gave what used to -be called <i lang="fr">assemblées</i>, and are now known as routs—a -ball without supper. My parents usually went there.” -Thereupon, the Chief once more described his mother’s -costume, and then continued: “There was afterwards a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_491">[p. 491]</span> -Russian Minister in Berlin, Ribeaupierre, who also gave -balls, where people danced till 2 o’clock in the morning, -and there was nothing to eat. I know that, because I -and a couple of good friends were often there. At -length we got tired of it, and played them a trick. -When it got late, we pulled out some bread and butter -from our pockets, and after we had finished, we pitched -the paper on the drawing-room floor. Refreshments -were provided next time, but we were not invited any -more.”</p> - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_492">[p. 492]</span></p> -<h2>CHAPTER <abbr title="18">XVIII</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS RESPECTING THE CAPITULATION -OF PARIS</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara"><i>Wednesday, January 25th.</i>—Count Lehndorff dined -with us, and talked about hunting and hunting dinners, -including a great banquet given by some Baron which -consisted of no less than twenty-four courses. His -brother was present and fell asleep propped on his -elbows, while a neighbour of his sunk into slumber on -the shoulder of a governess who was sitting next him. -The dinner lasted over five hours and the people were -most horribly bored, as often happens in the country. -The Chief remarked: “I always know how to get over -that difficulty. One must put down a good bit of liquor -right at the beginning, and under its influence one’s -neighbours to the left and right grow ever so much -cleverer and pleasanter.”</p> - -<p>The Minister then spoke about his first journey to -St. Petersburg. He drove in a carriage, as at first there -was no snow. It fell very heavily later on, however, -and progress was terribly slow. It took him five full -days and six nights to reach the first railway station, -and he spent the whole time cramped up in a narrow -carriage without sleep and with the thermometer at -fifteen degrees Reaumur below zero. In the train, however -he fell so fast asleep that on their arrival in St.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_493">[p. 493]</span> -Petersburg, after a ten hours’ run, he felt as if he had -been only five minutes in the railway carriage.</p> - -<p>“The old times before the railways were completed -had also their good side,” continued the Minister. -“There was not so much to do. The mail only came in -twice a week, and then one worked as if for a wager. -But when the mail was over we got on horseback, and -had a good time of it until its next arrival.” Somebody -observed that the increased work, both abroad and at the -Foreign Office, was due more to the telegraph than to -the railways. This led the Chief to talk about diplomatic -reports in general, many of which, while written in a -pleasant style, were quite empty. “They are like -feuilletons, written merely because something has to -be written. That was the case, for instance, with the -reports of Bamberg, our Consul in Paris. One read -them through always thinking: Now something is -coming. But nothing ever came. They sounded very -well and one read on and on. But there was really -nothing in them. All barren and empty.” Another -instance was then mentioned, Bernhardi, our Military -Plenipotentiary at Florence, of whom the Chief said: -“He passes for being a good writer on military subjects -because of his work on Toll. We do not know, however, -how much of that he himself wrote. Thereupon he was -given the rank of major, although it is not certain that -he ever was an officer at all, and he was appointed -Military Plenipotentiary in Italy. Great things were -expected of him there, and in the matter of quantity he -did a great deal—also in the matter of style. He writes -in an agreeable way, as if for a feuilleton, but when I -have got to the end of his closely-written reports in a -small neat hand, for all their length I have found -nothing in them.”...</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_494">[p. 494]</span></p> - -<p>The Minister then returned to the subject of tiresome -journeys and long rides. He said: “I remember -after the battle of Sadowa I was the whole day in the -saddle on a big horse. At first I did not want to ride -him as he was too high and it was too much trouble to -mount. At last, however, I did so, and I was not sorry -for it. It was an excellent animal! But the long -waiting above the valley had exhausted me and my seat -and legs were very sore. The skin was not broken, that has -never happened to me, but afterwards when I sat down -on a wooden bench I had a feeling as if I were sitting on -something that came between me and the wood. It -was only a blister. After Sadowa we arrived late at -night in the market-place of Horsitz. There we were -told that we were to seek out our own quarters. That, -however, was much easier said than done. The houses -were bolted and barred, and the sappers, who might -have broken in the doors for us, were not to arrive -before five in the morning.” “His Excellency knew how -to help himself in a similar case at Gravelotte,” interrupted -Delbrück. The Chief continued his story: -“Well, I went to several houses at Horsitz, three or -four, and at length I found a door open. After making -a few steps into the dark I fell into a kind of pit. -Luckily it was not deep, and I was able to satisfy -myself that it was filled with horse-dung. I thought at -first, ‘How would it be to remain here,’—on the dung-heap, -but I soon recognised other smells. What curious -things happen sometimes! If that pit had been twenty -feet deep, and full, they would have had a long search -next morning for their Minister, and doubtless there -would be no Chancellor of the Confederation to-day.” “I -went out again and finally found a corner for myself in -an arcade on the market-place. I laid a couple of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_495">[p. 495]</span> -carriage cushions on the ground and made a pillow of a -third, and then stretched myself out to sleep. Later on -some one waked me. It was Perponcher, who told me -that the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg had a room for me -and an unoccupied bed. That turned out to be correct, -but the bed was only a child’s cot. I managed to fix it, -however, by arranging the back of a chair at the end of -it. But in the morning I could hardly stand, as my -knees had been resting on the bare boards.” “One can -sleep quite comfortably if one has only a sackful of straw, -however small. You cut it open in the middle, push -the straw to the two ends, and let yourself into the -hollow part. I used to do that in Russia when out -hunting. I ripped the bag open with my hunting -knife, crept into it and slept like a log.” “That was -when the despatch from Napoleon came,” observed -Bohlen. The Chief replied: “Yes, the one at which -the King was so pleased, because it showed that he had -won a great battle—his first great battle.” “And you -were also glad,” said Bohlen, “and you swore an oath -that you would one day requite the Gauls when an -opportunity offered.”...</p> - -<p>Finally the Chief related: “Favre told me the day -before yesterday that the first shell that fell in the -Pantheon cut off the head of the statue of Henri <abbr title="4">IV.</abbr>” -“He doubtless thought that was a very pathetic piece -of news,” suggested Bohlen. “Oh, no,” replied the -Chief, “I rather fancy that, as a democrat, he was -pleased that it should have happened to a King.” -Bohlen: “That is the second piece of bad luck that -Henri has had in Paris. First a Frenchman stabbed -him there, and now we have beheaded him.”</p> - -<p>The dinner lasted very long this evening, from 5.30 -till after 7. Favre was expected back from Paris every<span class="pagenum" id="Page_496">[p. 496]</span> -moment. He came at length at 7.30, again accompanied -by his son-in-law with the Spanish name. It is -understood that neither hesitated this time, as they -did on the former occasion, to take the food that was -offered to them, but, like sensible people, did justice to -the good things that were laid before them. It is -doubtless to be inferred from this that they have also -listened to reason in the main point, or will do so. -That will soon appear, as Favre is again conferring with -the Chancellor.</p> - -<p>After dinner read drafts. Instructions have been -sent to Rosenberg-Grudcinski at Reims respecting the -collection of taxes. The Municipalities are to be called -upon to pay five per cent. extra for each day of arrears. -Flying columns with artillery are to be sent to districts -where payment is obstinately refused. They are to -summon the inhabitants to pay up the taxes and if this -is not done immediately to shell the place and set it on -fire. Three examples would render a fourth unnecessary. -It is not our business to win over the French by -considerate treatment or to take their welfare into -account. On the contrary, in view of their character, -it is desirable to inspire them with a greater fear of us -than of their own Government, which, of course, also -enforces compulsory measures against them. According -to a report by the Minister of the Netherlands to his -Government, the Red Republicans in Paris attempted a -rising the night before last, released some of their -leaders, and then provoked a riot outside the Hôtel de -Ville. The National Guard fired upon the Mobiles, -and there were some dead and wounded, but ultimately -order was restored.</p> - -<p>About 10 o’clock, while Favre was still here, there -was heavy firing from big guns which continued for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_497">[p. 497]</span> -perhaps an hour. I went to tea at 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, and -found Hatzfeldt and Bismarck-Bohlen in conversation -with Del Rio in the dining-room. He is a man of -medium height, dark beard, slightly bald, and wears a -pince-nez. Shortly after I came down, he left for his -quarters at Stieber’s house, accompanied by Mantey, -and he was followed a quarter of an hour later by -Favre. Del Rio spoke of Paris as being the “<span lang="fr">centre -du monde</span>,” so that the bombardment is a kind of -target practice at the centre of the world. He mentioned -that Favre has a villa at Reuil and a large cellar -in Paris with all sorts of wine, and that he himself has -an estate in Mexico of six square German miles in -extent. After Favre’s departure the Chief came out to -us, ate some cold partridge, asked for some ham, and -drank a bottle of beer. After a while he sighed, and -sitting up straight in his chair, he exclaimed: “If one -could only decide and order these things one’s self! But -to bring others to do it!” He paused for a minute -and then continued: “What surprises me is that they -have not sent out any general. And it is difficult to -make Favre understand military matters.” He then -mentioned a couple of French technical terms of which -Favre did not know the meaning. “Well, it is to be -hoped that he had a proper meal to-day,” said Bohlen. -The Chief replied in the affirmative, and then Bohlen -said he had heard it rumoured that this time Favre had -not despised the champagne. The Chief: “Yes, the -day before yesterday he refused to take any, but to-day -he had several glasses. The first time he had some -scruples of conscience about eating, but I persuaded -him, and his hunger doubtless supported me, for he ate -like one who had had a long fast.”</p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt reported that the Mayor, Rameau, had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_498">[p. 498]</span> -called about an hour before and asked if <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Favre was -here. He wanted to speak to him and to place himself -at his disposal. Might he do so? He, Hatzfeldt, had -replied that of course he did not know. The Chief: -“For a man to come in the night to a person who is -returning to Paris is sufficient of itself to bring him -before a court-martial. The audacious fellow!” -Bohlen: “Mantey has doubtless already told Stieber. -Probably this <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Rameau is anxious to return to his -cell.” (Rameau was obliged some time since to study -the interior of one of the cells in the prison in the Rue -Saint Pierre for a few days in company with some other -members of the corporation—if I am not mistaken, on -account of some refusal or some insolent reply about -supplying provisions for Versailles.)</p> - -<p>The Minister then related some particulars of his -interview with Favre. “I like him better now than at -Ferrières,” he said. “He spoke a good deal and in long, -well-rounded periods. It was often not necessary to -pay attention or to answer. They were anecdotes of -former times. He is a very good <i lang="fr">raconteur</i>.” “He -was not at all offended at my recent letter to him. On -the contrary, he felt indebted to me for calling his -attention to what he owed to himself.” “He also spoke -of having a villa near Paris, which was, however, wrecked -and pillaged. I had it on the tip of my tongue to say, -‘But not by us!’ but he himself immediately added that -it had doubtless been done by the Mobiles.” “He then -complained that Saint Cloud had been burning for the -last three days, and wanted to persuade me that we had -set the palace there on fire.” “In speaking of the -franctireurs and their misdeeds, he wished to call my -attention to our guerillas in 1813—they indeed had -been much worse. I said to him: ‘I don’t want to deny<span class="pagenum" id="Page_499">[p. 499]</span> -that, but you are also aware that the French shot them -whenever they caught them. And they did not shoot -them all in one place, but one batch on the spot where -the act was committed, another batch at the next halt, -and so on, in order to serve as a deterrent.’” “He -maintained that in the last engagement, on the 19th, -the National Guard, recruited from the well-to-do classes, -fought best, while the battalions raised from the lower -classes were worthless.”</p> - -<p>The Chief paused for a while and seemed to be -reflecting. He then continued: “If the Parisians first -received a supply of provisions and were then again put -on half rations and once more obliged to starve, that -ought, I think, to work. It is like flogging. When it -is administered continuously it is not felt so much. But -when it is suspended for a time and then another dose -inflicted, it hurts! I know that from the criminal -court where I was employed. Flogging was still in use -there.”</p> - -<p>The subject of flogging in general was then discussed, -and Bohlen, who favours its retention, observed that the -English had re-introduced it. “Yes,” said Bucher, “but -first for personal insult to the Queen, on the occasion of -an outrage against the Royal person, and afterwards for -garrotting.” The Chief then related that in 1863, when -the garrotters appeared in London, he was often obliged -to go after twelve o’clock at night through a solitary -lane, containing only stables and full of heaps of horse-dung, -which led from Regent Street to his lodgings in -Park Street. To his terror, he read in the papers that -a number of these attacks had taken place on that very -spot.</p> - -<p>Then, after a pause, the Minister said: “This is really -an unheard-of proceeding on the part of the English.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_500">[p. 500]</span> -They want to send a gunboat up the Seine” (Odo -Russell put forward this demand, which the Chancellor -absolutely refused) “in order, they say, to remove the -English families there. They merely want to ascertain -if we have laid down torpedoes and then to let the -French ships follow them. What swine! They are full -of vexation and envy because we have fought great -battles here—and won them. They cannot bear to think -that shabby little Prussia should prosper so. The -Prussians are a people who should merely exist in order -to carry on war for them in their pay. This is the view -taken by all the upper classes in England. They have -never been well disposed towards us, and have always -done their utmost to injure us.” “The Crown Princess -herself is an incarnation of this way of thinking. She is -full of her own great condescension in marrying into our -country. I remember her once telling me that two or -three merchant families in Liverpool had more silver-plate -than the entire Prussian nobility. ‘Yes,’ I replied, -‘that is possibly true, your Royal Highness, but we -value ourselves for other things besides silver.’”</p> - -<p>The Minister remained silent for a while. Then he -said: “I have often thought over what would have -happened if we had gone to war about Luxemburg—should -I now be in Paris or would the French be in -Berlin? I think I did well to prevent war at that time. -We should not have been nearly so strong as we are to-day. -At that time the Hanoverians would not have -made trustworthy soldiers. I will say nothing about -the Hessians—they would have done well. The Schleswig-Holstein -men have now fought like lions, but there was -no army there then. Saxony was also useless. The -army had been disbanded and had to be recruited over -again. And there was little confidence to be placed in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_501">[p. 501]</span> -the South Germans. The Würtembergers, what excellent -fellows they are now, quite first rate! But in 1866 -they would have been laughed at by every soldier as -they marched into Frankfurt like so many militiamen. -The Baden troops were also not up to the mark. Beyer, -and indeed the Grand Duke, has since then done a great -deal for them.” “It is true that public opinion -throughout Germany would have been on our side had -we wished to fight for Luxemburg. But that was not -enough to compensate for such deficiencies. Moreover, -we had not right on our side. I have never confessed -it publicly, but I can say it here: after the dissolution -of the Confederation the Grand Duke had become the -sovereign of Luxemburg and could have done what he -liked with the country. It would have been mean of -him to part with it for money, but it was open to him -to cede it to France. Our right of occupation was also -not well founded. Properly speaking, after the dissolution -of the Confederation we ought no longer to have -occupied even Rastatt and Mainz. I said that in the -Council—I had at that time yet another idea, namely, -to hand over Luxemburg to Belgium. In that case we -should have united it to a country on behalf of whose -neutrality, as people then thought, England would -intervene. That would also have strengthened the -German element there against the French speaking -inhabitants, and at the same time have secured a good -frontier. My proposal was not received with any favour, -and it is just as well as it has turned out.”</p> - -<p>Bismarck-Bohlen drew attention to a capital cartoon -in <cite lang="de">Kladderadatsch</cite>: Napoleon waiting on the platform -of the railway station and saying “They have already -given the signal to start.” He has put on an ermine -cloak for his journey to Paris, and is carrying his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_502">[p. 502]</span> -portmanteau in his hand. The Chief, however, observed: -“Doubtless he thinks so, and he may be right. But I -fear he will miss the train. Yet, after all, there may be -no other way left. He would be easier to convince than -Favre. But he would always require half the army to -maintain him on the throne.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, January 26th.</i>—The Chief drove off to -see the King at 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span></p> - -<p>Herr Hans von Rochow and Count Lehndorff dined -with us. The Chief talked about Favre: “He told me -that on Sundays the boulevards are still full of -fashionably dressed women with pretty children. I -remarked to him, ‘I am surprised at that. I wonder -you have not yet eaten them!’” As some one noticed -that the firing was particularly heavy to-day, the -Minister observed: “I remember in the criminal court -we once had a subordinate official—I believe his name -was Stepki—whose business it was to administer the -floggings. He was accustomed to lay on the last -three strokes with exceptional vigour—as a wholesome -memento!” The conversation then turned upon -Strousberg, whose bankruptcy was said to be imminent, -and the Chief said: “He once told me, ‘I know I -shall not even die in my own house.’ But for the -war, it would not have happened so soon, perhaps -not at all. He always kept afloat by issuing new -shares, and the game succeeded, although other Jews, -who had made money before him, did their best to -spoil it. But now comes the war, and his Rumanians -have fallen lower and lower, so that at present one -might ask how much they cost per hundredweight. -For all that, he remains a clever man and indefatigable.” -The mention of Strousberg’s cleverness and restless -activity led on to Gambetta, who was said to have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_503">[p. 503]</span> -also “made his five millions out of the war.” But -doubts were expressed on this point, and I believe -rightly. After the Dictator of Bordeaux, it was Napoleon’s -turn to be discussed, and according to Bohlen, -people said he had saved at least fifty millions -during the nineteen years of his reign. “Others say -eighty millions,” added the Chief, “but I doubt it. -Louis Philippe spoiled the business. He had riots arranged, -and then bought stocks on the Amsterdam -Exchange, but at last business men saw through it.” -Hatzfeldt or Keudell then observed that this resourceful -monarch used to fall ill from time to time with a -similar object.</p> - -<p>Morny was then spoken of as having been specially -ingenious in making money in every possible way under -the Empire. The Chief told us that “when Morny -was appointed Ambassador to St. Petersburg he appeared -with a whole collection of elegant carriages, -some forty-three of them altogether, and all his chests, -trunks and boxes were full of laces, silks, and feminine -finery, upon which, as Ambassador, he had to pay no -customs duty. Every servant had his own carriage, -and every attaché and secretary had at least two. A -few days after his arrival he sold off the whole lot by -auction, clearing at least 800,000 roubles. He was a -thief, but an amiable one.” The Chief then, pursuing -the same subject and quoting further instances, continued: -“For the matter of that, influential people in -St. Petersburg understood this sort of business—not -that they were willing to take money directly. But -when a person wanted something, he went to a certain -French shop, and bought expensive laces, gloves or -jewellery, perhaps for five or six thousand roubles. -The shop was run on behalf of some official or his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_504">[p. 504]</span> -wife. This process repeated, say, twice a week, produced -quite a respectable amount in the course of the -year.”</p> - -<p>Bohlen called out across the table: “Do, please, tell -that lovely story about the Jew with the torn boots who -got twenty-five lashes.” The Chief: “It came about in -this way. One day a Jew called at our Chancellerie -declaring that he was penniless, and wanted to be sent -back to Prussia. He was terribly tattered, and he had -on in particular a pair of boots that showed his naked -toes. He was told that he would be sent home, but -then he wanted to get other boots as it was so cold. -He demanded them as a right, and became so forward -and impudent, screaming and calling names, that our -people did not know what to do with him. And the -servants also could not trust themselves to deal with -the furious creature. At length, when the row had -become intolerable, I was called to render physical -assistance. I told the man to be quiet or I would have -him locked up. He answered defiantly: ‘You can’t do -that. You have no right whatever to do that in -Russia!’ ‘We shall see!’ I replied. ‘I must send you -home, but I am not called upon to give you boots, -although perhaps I might have done so. But first you -shall receive punishment for your abominable behaviour.’ -He then repeated that I could not touch him. Thereupon -I opened the window and beckoned to a Russian -policeman, who was stationed a little way off. My Jew -continued to shriek and abuse us until the policeman, a -tall stout man, came in. I said, ‘Take him with you—lock -him up till to-morrow—twenty-five!’ The big -policeman took the little Jew with him, and locked him -up. He came again next morning quite transformed, -very humble and submissive, and declared himself ready<span class="pagenum" id="Page_505">[p. 505]</span> -for the journey without new boots. I asked how he -had got on in the interval. Badly, he said, very badly. -But what had they done to him? They had—well, -they had—physically maltreated him. I thought that -when he got home he would enter a complaint against -me, or get his case into the newspapers—the <cite lang="de">Volkszeitung</cite>, -or some such popular organ. The Jews know -how to make a row. But he must have decided otherwise, -for nothing more was heard of him.”</p> - -<p>When I came down to tea at 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> I found the -Chief in conversation with the members of Parliament, -Von Köller and Von Forckenbeck. The Minister was -just saying that more money would soon be required. -“We did not want to ask more from the Reichstag,” he -said, “as we did not anticipate that the war would last -so long. I have written to Camphausen, but he suggests -requisitions and contributions. They are very difficult -to collect, as the immense area of country over which -we are dispersed requires more troops than we can spare -for purposes of coercion. Two million soldiers would be -necessary to deal thoroughly with a territory of 12,000 -German square miles. Besides, everything has grown -dearer in consequence of the war. When we make a -requisition we get nothing. When we pay cash there -is always enough to be had in the market, and cheaper -than in Germany. Here the bushel of oats costs four -francs, and if it is brought from Germany six francs. I -thought at first of getting the contributions of the -different States paid in advance. But that would only -amount to twenty millions, as Bavaria will keep her own -accounts until 1872. Another way out of the difficulty -occurred to me, namely, to apply to our Diet for a sum -on account. But we must first find out what Moltke -proposes to extort from the Parisians, that is to say,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_506">[p. 506]</span> -from the city of Paris—for that is what we are dealing -with for the present.” Forckenbeck was of opinion that -the Chief’s plan would meet with no insurmountable -resistance in the Diet. It is true the doctrinaires would -raise objections, and others would complain that Prussia -should again have to come to the rescue and make -sacrifices for the rest of the country, but in all probability -the majority would go with the Government. -Köller could confirm that opinion, which he did.</p> - -<p>Afterwards an officer of the dark blue hussars, a -Count Arnim who had just arrived from Le Mans, came -in and gave us a great deal of interesting news. He -said the inhabitants of the town appeared to be very -sensible people who disapproved of Gambetta’s policy, -and everywhere expressed their desire for peace. “Yes,” -replied the Chief, “that is very good of the people, but -how does it help us if with all their good sense they -allow Gambetta, time after time, to stamp new armies -of 150,000 men out of the ground?” Arnim having -further related that they had again made great numbers -of prisoners, the Minister exclaimed: “That is most -unsatisfactory! What shall we do with them all in the -end? Why make so many prisoners? Every one who -makes prisoners ought to be tried by court-martial.” -This, like many other similar expressions, must doubtless -not be taken literally, and applies only to the -franctireurs.</p> - -<p><i>Friday, January 27th.</i>—It is said that the bombardment -ceased at midnight. It was to have recommenced -at 6 o’clock this morning in case the Paris Government -was not prepared to agree to our conditions for a -truce. As it has ceased, the Parisians have doubtless -yielded. But Gambetta?</p> - -<p>Moltke arrives at 8.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and remains in conference<span class="pagenum" id="Page_507">[p. 507]</span> -with the Chief for about three-quarters of an -hour. The Frenchmen put in an appearance shortly -before 11. Favre (who has had his grey Radical beard -clipped) with thick underlip, yellow complexion, and -light grey eyes; General Beaufort d’Hautpoule, with his -aide-de-camp, Calvel; and Dürrbach, a “Chief of the -Engineers of the Eastern Railway.” Beaufort is understood -to have led the attack on the redoubt at Montretout -on the 19th. Their negotiations with the Chief -appear to have come to a speedy conclusion, or to have -been broken off. Shortly after twelve o’clock, just as -we sit down to lunch, they drive off again in the -carriages that brought them here. Favre looks very -depressed. The general is noticeably red in the face, -and does not seem to be quite steady on his legs. -Shortly after the French had gone the Chancellor came -in to us and said: “I only want a breath of fresh air. -Please do not disturb yourselves.” Then, turning to -Delbrück and shaking his head, he said: “There is -nothing to be done with him. Mentally incapable—drunk, -I believe. I told him to think it over until half-past -one. Perhaps he will have recovered by that time. -Muddle-headed and ill-mannered. What is his name? -Something like Bouffre or Pauvre?” Keudell said: -“Beaufort.” The Chief: “A distinguished name, but -not at all distinguished manners.” It appears, then, -that the general has actually taken more than he was -able to carry, perhaps in consequence of his natural -capacity having been weakened by hunger.</p> - -<p>At lunch it was mentioned that on his way here, -Forckenbeck saw the village of Fontenay still in flames. -It had been fired by our troops as a punishment for the -destruction of the railway bridges by the mutinous -peasantry. Delbrück rejoiced with us “that at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_508">[p. 508]</span> -last adequate punishment had been once more -inflicted.”</p> - -<p>In the afternoon we heard that the Chancellor drove -off shortly before 1 o’clock, first to see the Emperor, -and then to Moltke’s, where he and Podbielski again -met the Frenchmen. The latter afterwards left for -Paris, about 4 o’clock, and will return to-morrow at -noon for the purpose of completing the capitulation.</p> - -<p>At dinner, the Chief, speaking of Beaufort, said he had -behaved like a man without any breeding. “He -blustered and shouted and swore like a trooper, and -with his ‘<span lang="fr">moi, général de l’armée française</span>,’ he was -almost unendurable. Favre, who is not very well bred -either, said to me: ‘<span lang="fr">J’en suis humilié!</span>’ Besides, he -was not so very drunk; it was, rather, his vulgar -manners. At the General Staff they were of opinion -that a man of that sort had been chosen in order that -no arrangement should be come to. I said that, on the -contrary, they had selected him because it did not -matter for such a person to lose credit with the public -by signing the capitulation.”</p> - -<p>The Chief then continued: “I said to Favre during -our last interview: ‘<span lang="fr">Vous avez été trahi—par la -fortune</span>.’ He saw the point clearly, but only said: -‘<span lang="fr">A qui le dites-vous! Dans trois fois vingt quatre -heures je serai aussi compté au nombre des traîtres.</span>’ -He added that his position in Paris was very critical. -I proposed to him: ‘<span lang="fr">Provoquez donc une émeute pendant -que vous avez encore une armée pour l’etouffer</span>.’ He -looked at me quite terror-stricken, as if he wished to -say, How bloodthirsty you are. I explained to him, -however, that that was the only right way to manage -the mob.” “Then, again, he has no idea of how things -are with us. He mentioned several times that France<span class="pagenum" id="Page_509">[p. 509]</span> -was the land of liberty, while Germany was governed -by a despotism. I told him, for instance, that we -wanted money and that Paris must supply some. He -suggested that we should raise a loan. I replied that -that could not be done without the approval of the -Diet. ‘Ah’ he said, ‘you can surely get five hundred -million francs without the Chamber.’ I answered: ‘No, -not five francs.’ But he would not believe it. I told -him that I had been at loggerheads with the popular -representatives for four whole years, but that the -raising of a loan without the Diet was the limit to -which I went, and which it never occurred to me to -overstep. That seemed to disconcert him somewhat, -but he only said that in France ‘<span lang="fr">on ne se gênerait pas</span>.’ -And yet he returned afterwards to the immense freedom -which they enjoy in France. It is really funny to hear -a Frenchman talk in that way, and particularly Favre, -who has always been a member of the Opposition. But -that’s their way. You can give a Frenchman twenty-five -lashes, and if you only make a fine speech to him -about the freedom and dignity of man of which those -lashes are the expression, and at the same time strike a -fitting attitude, he will persuade himself that he is not -being thrashed.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, Keudell,” said the Chief suddenly, “it just -occurs to me. I must have my full powers drawn up -for to-morrow, of course in German. The German -Emperor must only write German. The Minister can -be guided by circumstances. Official communications -must be written in the language of the country, not in a -foreign tongue. Bernstorff was the first to try to introduce -that system in our case, but he went too far with -it. He wrote to all the diplomatists in German, and -they replied, of course by agreement, each in his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_510">[p. 510]</span> -own language, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and what not, -so that he had to have a whole army of translators in -the office. That was how I found matters when I came -into power. Budberg (the Russian Ambassador in -Berlin) sent me a note in Russian. That was too much -for me. If they wanted to have their revenge Gortschakoff -should have written in Russian to our Ambassador -in St. Petersburg. That would have been the -right way. It is only fair to ask that the representatives -of foreign countries should understand and speak the -language of the State to which they are accredited. But -it was unfair to send me in Berlin a reply in Russian to a -note in German. I decided that all communications -received in other languages than German, French, -English and Italian should be left unnoticed and put -away in the archives. Budberg then wrote screed after -screed, always in Russian. No answer was returned and -the documents were all laid by with the State papers. -At last he came himself and asked why he had received -no reply. ‘Reply!’ I exclaimed. ‘To what?’ Why, -he had written a month ago and had afterwards sent me -several reminders. ‘Ah, quite so!’ I said. ‘There is a -great pile of documents in Russian down stairs, and yours -are probably amongst them. But we have no one who -understands Russian, and I have given instructions for -all documents written in a language we do not understand -to be put away in the archives.’” It was then -arranged that Budberg should write in French, and the -Foreign Office also when it suited them.</p> - -<p>The Chief then talked about the French negotiators -and said: “M. Dürrbach introduced himself as ‘<span lang="fr">membre -de l’administration du Chemin de fer de l’Est; j’y suis -beaucoup intéressé</span>.’—If he only knew what we intend.” -(Probably the cession of the Eastern Railway.) Hatzfeldt:<span class="pagenum" id="Page_511">[p. 511]</span> -“He threw up his hands in dismay when the General -Staff pointed out to him on the map the tunnels, -bridges, &c., destroyed by the French themselves. ‘I -have always been against that’ he said, ‘and I pointed -out to them that a bridge could be repaired in three -hours—but they would not listen to me.’” The Chief: -“Repaired after a fashion, certainly, but not a railway -bridge capable of carrying a train. They will find it -hard now to bring up provisions to Paris, particularly if -they have committed the same stupid destruction in the -west. I think they rely upon drawing supplies from -Brittany and Normandy, where there are large flocks of -sheep, and from the ports. To my knowledge there are -plenty of bridges and tunnels in those parts too, and if -they have destroyed them they will find themselves in -great straits. I hope, moreover, that people in London -will only send them hams and not bread!”</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, January 28th.</i>—At 11 o’clock the French -negotiators again arrived—Favre, Dürrbach and two -others, who are understood to be also leading railway -officials; and two officers, another general, and an aide-de-camp, -both men with a good presence. They take -lunch with us. Then follows a lengthy negotiation at -Moltke’s lodgings. The Chief afterwards dictates to the -Secretaries Willisch and Saint Blanquart the treaties of -capitulation and armistice, which are drawn up in -duplicate. They are afterwards signed and sealed by -Bismarck and Favre, at twenty minutes past seven, in -the green room next to the Minister’s study up stairs.</p> - -<p>The Frenchmen dined with us. The general (Valden -is his name) ate little and hardly spoke at all. Favre -was also dejected and taciturn. The aide-de-camp, <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> -d’Hérisson, did not appear to be so much affected, and -the railway officials, after their long privations, devoted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_512">[p. 512]</span> -themselves with considerable gusto to the pleasures of -the table. According to what I can gather from the -latter they have, as a matter of fact, been on very short -commons in Paris for some time past, and the death rate -last week amounted to about five thousand. The -mortality was especially heavy amongst children up to -two years of age, and coffins for these tiny French -citizens were to be seen in all directions. Delbrück -declared afterwards that “Favre and the General looked -like two condemned prisoners who were going to the -gallows next morning. I pitied them.”</p> - -<p>Keudell expects that peace will soon be concluded -and that we shall be back in Berlin within a month. -Shortly before 10 o’clock a bearded gentleman apparently -about forty-five, who gave his name as Duparc, called -and was immediately conducted to the Chief, with whom -he spent about two hours. He is understood to be -the former French Minister Duvernois, coming from -Wilhelmshöhe with proposals for peace. The capitulation -and armistice do not yet mean the end of the war -with France.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, January 29th.</i>—Our troops moved forward -to occupy the forts. In the morning read despatches -respecting the London Conference, and other subjects, -as well as the treaties for the armistice and capitulation -signed yesterday. Bernstorff reported that Musurus -became very violent at one of the sittings of the Conference. -He could not conceive why the stipulation -closing the Dardanelles against Russian men-of-war -should not be worded in an indirect and therefore less -offensive form for Russia, and at the same time quite -as acceptable to the Porte. From another of Bernstorff’s -despatches the Chief appears to have hinted that -Napoleon should not miss the right moment. It is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_513">[p. 513]</span> -also stated that Palikao, who was of the same opinion, -thought it would be dangerous to agree in the capitulation -to leave the National Guard under arms. Vinoy -and Roncière, being in favour of the Emperor, would -doubtless be the right men to assume command of the -troops in the city.</p> - -<p>Our copy of the capitulation fills ten folio pages, -and is stitched together with silk in the French colours, -on the end of which Favre has impressed his seal.</p> - -<p>We were joined at lunch by Count Henckel, who -has been appointed Prefect at Metz. He maintained -that in about five years the elections in his department -would be favourable to the Government; indeed, -he was confident even now of being able to bring -about that result. In Alsace, however, the prospect -was not so good, as Germans are not so docile to -authority as the French. He also mentioned that his -department had really suffered severely. At the commencement -of the war it had some thirty-two to -thirty-five thousand horses, and now he believed there -were not more than five thousand left.</p> - -<p>Before dinner I read further drafts, including a -memorandum, in which the Chief explained to the -King that it was impossible to demand from Favre, -after the conclusion of the capitulation, the surrender -of the flags of the French regiments in Paris.</p> - -<p>We were joined at dinner by Count Henckel and the -French aide-de-camp who was here yesterday. The -latter, whose full name is d’Hérisson de Saulnier, wore -a black hussar uniform, with yellow shoulder straps -and embroidery on the sleeves. He is said to understand -and speak German, yet the conversation, into -which the Chief entered with zest, was for the most -part carried on in French. In the absence of Favre<span class="pagenum" id="Page_514">[p. 514]</span> -and the General (the former was still in the house, but -as he was very busy he had his dinner sent up to him -in the small drawing-room) the aide-de-camp was more -lively and amusing than yesterday. He bore the whole -burden of the conversation for a considerable time, with -a series of droll anecdotes. The scarcity of food in the -city had become of late very painfully perceptible, but -his experience would appear to have been more with -the amusing, than with the serious, side of the question. -He said that for him the most interesting period of -their fast was “while they were eating up the Jardin -des Plantes.” Elephant meat cost twenty francs per -kilogramme and tasted like coarse beef, and they had -really had “<span lang="fr">filets de chameau</span>” and “<span lang="fr">côtelettes de -tigre</span>.” A dog flesh market was held in the Rue Saint -Honoré, the price being two francs fifty per kilo. -There were hardly any more dogs to be seen in Paris, -and whenever people caught sight of one, they immediately -hunted it down. It was the same with cats. If -a pigeon alighted on a roof a view holloa was at once -raised in the street. Only the carrier pigeons were -spared. The despatches were fastened in the middle of -their tail feathers, of which they ought to have nine. -If one of them happened to have only eight, they said: -“<span lang="fr">ce n’est qu’un civil</span>” and it had to go the way of all -flesh. A lady is said to have remarked: “<span lang="fr">Jamais je -ne mangerai plus de pigeon, car je croirais toujours -avoir mangé un facteur</span>.”</p> - -<p>In return for these and other stories the Chief related -a number of things which were not yet known in -the drawing-rooms and clubs of Paris, and which people -there might be glad to hear, as for instance the shabby -behaviour of Rothschild at Ferrières, and the way in -which the Elector of Hesse transformed Rothschild’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_515">[p. 515]</span> -grandfather Amschel from a little Jew into a great one. -The Chancellor repeatedly referred to the latter as the -“<span lang="fr">Juif de cour</span>,” and afterwards gave a description of -the domesticated Jews of the Polish nobility.</p> - -<p>On Bohlen reporting later on that he had, in accordance -with instructions, sent certain papers to “the -Emperor,” the Chief observed: “The Emperor? I -envy those to whom the new title already comes so -trippingly.” Abeken returned from his Majesty’s and -announced that “The matter of the flags was settled.” -The Chief: “Have you also fired off my revolver -letter?” Abeken: “Yes, Excellency, it has been discharged.”</p> - -<p>After dinner read drafts and reports, amongst the -latter a very interesting one in which Russia advises us -to leave Metz and German Lorraine to the French, and -to annex a neighbouring piece of territory instead. -According to a recent despatch from St. Petersburg -Gortschakoff has suggested that Germany might take -Luxemburg and leave the French a corresponding -portion of Lorraine. The geographical position of the -Grand Duchy indicated that it should form part of -Germany, and Prince Henry, who is devotedly attached -to his separate Court, alone stood in the way. King -William wrote on the margin of the despatch that this suggestion -was to be absolutely rejected. The Chief then replied -as follows: The future position of Luxemburg would, -it is true, be an unpleasant one—not for us, but rather -for the Grand Duchy itself. We must not, however, -exercise any compulsion, nor take the property of others. -We must therefore adhere to the programme communicated -five months ago to St. Petersburg, especially as we -have since then made great sacrifices. The realisation -of that programme is indispensable for the security of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_516">[p. 516]</span> -Germany. We must have Metz. The German people -would not tolerate any alteration of the programme.</p> - -<p>Favre did not leave till 10.15 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, and then not for -Paris, but for his quarters here in the Boulevard du Roi. -He will come again to-morrow at noon.</p> - -<p>The Chief afterwards joined us at tea. In speaking -of the capitulation and the armistice, Bohlen asked: -“But what if the others do not agree—Gambetta and -the Prefects in the south?” “Well, in that case we have -the forts which give us the control of the city,” replied -the Chief. “The King also could not understand that, -and inquired what was to happen if the people at -Bordeaux did not ratify the arrangement. ‘Well,’ I -replied, ‘then we remain in the forts and keep the -Parisians shut up, and perhaps in that case we may -refuse to prolong the armistice on the 19th of February. -In the meantime they have delivered up their arms, and -they must pay the contribution. Those who have given -a material pledge under a treaty are all the worse off if -they cannot fulfil its conditions.’”</p> - -<p>Favre had, it seems, confessed to the Chief that he -had proceeded “<span lang="fr">un peu témérairement</span>” in the matter of -the revictualling of Paris. He really did not know -whether he would be able to provide in good time for -the hundreds of thousands in the city. Somebody -observed: “In case of necessity Stosch could supply -them with live stock and flour.” The Chief: “Yes, so -long as he can do so without injury to ourselves.” -Bismarck-Bohlen was of opinion that we need not give -them anything; let them see for themselves where they -could get supplies, &c. The Chief: “Well, then, you -would let them starve?” Bohlen: “Certainly.” The -Chief: “But then how are we to get our contribution?”</p> - -<p>Later on the Minister said: “Business of State,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_517">[p. 517]</span> -negotiations with the enemy, do not irritate me. Their -objections to my ideas and demands, even when they are -unreasonable, leave me quite cool. But the petty -grumbling and meddling of the military authorities in -political questions, and their ignorance of what is possible -and not possible in such matters! One of them comes -and wants this, another one that, and when you have -got rid of the first two, a third one turns up—an aide-de-camp -or aide-de-camp general—who says: ‘But, -your Excellency, surely that is impossible,’ or ‘We must -have this too in addition, else we shall be in danger of -our lives.’ And yesterday they went so far as to insist -that a condition (<i>i.e.</i>, for the surrender of the flags), -which was not mentioned in the negotiations, should be -introduced into a document that was already signed. I -said to them, however: ‘We have committed many a -crime in this war—but falsification of deeds! No, -gentlemen, really that cannot be done.’”</p> - -<p>Bernstorff, it was mentioned, reports that he had -informed the Conference that from this time forward he -represented the German Empire and Emperor; and that -the other members received this announcement with -approval. Thereupon the Chief remarked: “Bernstorff -is after all a man who has had business experience. How -can he do such things? His wife—what’s her name? -Augusta—no, Anna—will have a fine opinion of herself -now. Imperial Ambassadress! I cannot lay much store -by such titles. A prosperous and powerful King is -better than a weak Emperor, and a rich Baron better -than a poor Count.” “Such an Emperor as that of -Brazil or Mexico!” “With a salary of 800,000 florins,” -interjected Holstein. The Chief: “Well, that would -be enough to get on with. They require no firing -and no winter clothes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_518">[p. 518]</span></p> - -<p>Hatzfeldt mentioned that a Spanish secretary of -embassy had called. He had come from Bordeaux and -wanted to enter Paris in order to bring away his -countrymen. He also had a letter from Chaudordy for -Favre, and was in great haste. What answer should be -given to him? The Chief stooped down a little over -the table, then sat bolt upright again, and said: -“Attempting to carry a despatch from one member of -the enemy’s Government to another through our lines—that -is a case exactly suited for a court-martial. When -he comes back you will treat the matter in a very -serious way: receive him coolly, look surprised, and -say that we must complain to the new King of Spain -with regard to such a breach of neutrality and demand -satisfaction. Besides, I am astonished that Stiehle -should have let the fellow pass. These soldiers always -pay too much deference to diplomats. And even if he -had been an ambassador, Metternich for instance, he -should have been turned back even if he had to freeze -and starve in consequence. Indeed, such carrier service -borders closely on spying.”</p> - -<p>The rush of people to and out of Paris that was now -to be apprehended then came up for discussion. The -Chief: “Well, the French will not let so very many out, -and we shall only let those pass who have a permit from -the authorities inside, and perhaps not all of those.”</p> - -<p>Some one said that Rothschild, who had been supplied -with a safe conduct, wanted to come out; upon which -the Chief: “It would be well to detain him—as a -franctireur, and include him amongst the prisoners of -war. (To Keudell) Just inquire into the matter. I -mean it seriously.” Bohlen exclaimed: “Then Bleichröder -will come rushing over here and prostrate himself -in the name of all the Rothschild family.” The Chief:<span class="pagenum" id="Page_519">[p. 519]</span> -“In that case we will send him in to join them in Paris, -where he can have his share of the dog hunting.”</p> - -<p>Astonishment was then expressed that the <cite>Daily -Telegraph</cite> should have already published a detailed -epitome of the convention signed yesterday, and in this -connection Stieber, Favre’s fellow lodger, was mentioned. -The English correspondent had acknowledged, according -to Bucher, that he had received the news from Stieber, -and the Minister added: “I am convinced that Stieber -opened Favre’s writing-desk with a picklock, and then -made extracts from his papers which he gave to the -Englishman.” This is scarcely probable, as Stieber’s -knowledge of French is inadequate for that purpose. -He much more probably received the news from his -patron Bohlen, or perhaps from some officer who heard -it from the General Staff, who—as the Chancellor recently -remarked—“are very obliging and communicative in -such matters.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, January 30th.</i>—Favre and other Frenchmen, -including the Chief or Prefect of the Paris police, -were busily engaged with the Chief during the afternoon, -and dined with him at 5.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> The secretaries -and I were to go to the Hôtel des Reservoirs, as there -was not room enough at table. I remained at home, -however, and translated Granville’s latest peace proposals -for the Emperor.</p> - -<p>Abeken came up to me after dinner to get the -translation, and was sorry I had not been present as the -conversation was specially interesting. The Chief had -told the Frenchmen, amongst other things, that to be -consistent in one’s policy was frequently a mistake, and -only showed obstinacy and narrow-mindedness. One -must modify his course of action in accordance with -events, with the situation of affairs, with the possibilities<span class="pagenum" id="Page_520">[p. 520]</span> -of the case, taking the relations of things into -account and serving his country as the opportunity -offers and not according to his opinions, which are often -prejudices. When he first entered into political life, as -a young and inexperienced man, he had very different -views and aims to those which he had at present. He -had, however, altered and reconsidered his opinions, and -had not hesitated to sacrifice his wishes, either partially -or wholly to the requirements of the day, in order to -be of service. One must not impose his own leanings -and desires upon his country. “<span lang="fr">La patrie veut être -servie et pas dominée.</span>” This remark greatly impressed -the Parisian gentlemen, of course principally because of -its striking form. Favre replied: “<span lang="fr">C’est bien juste, -Monsieur le Comte, c’est profond</span>.” Another of the -Frenchmen also declared enthusiastically: “<span lang="fr">Oui, Messieurs, -c’est un mot profond</span>.”</p> - -<p>Bucher, when I went down to tea, confirmed the -above particulars, and related that Favre after praising -the truth and profundity of the Chief’s remark—which, -of course, was made for the edification of the Parisians, -just as in general his table talk is intended for the -benefit of his guests—must needs add the following -<i lang="fr">bêtise</i>: “<span lang="fr">Néanmoins c’est un beau spectacle de voir un -homme, qui n’a jamais changé ses principes</span>.” The railway -director, who appeared to Bucher to be more -intelligent than Favre, added, in reference to the -“<span lang="fr">servie et pas dominée</span>,” that that amounted to men of -genius subordinating themselves to the will and opinions -of the majority, and that majorities were always -deficient in intelligence, knowledge, and character. The -Chief made a lofty reply to this objection, stating that -with him (<i>i.e.</i>, with the man of genius, the hero) the -consciousness of his responsibility before God was one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_521">[p. 521]</span> -of his guiding stars. He opposed to the <i lang="fr">droit du génie</i>, -to which his interlocutor had given such a high place, -the sense of duty (doubtless meaning what Kant -describes as the categorical imperative), which he maintained -to be nobler and more powerful.</p> - -<p>A little after 11 o’clock the Chancellor joined us -at tea. “I am really curious,” he said, “to see what -Gambetta will do. It looks as if he wanted to think -over the matter further, as he has not yet replied. I -think, too, he will ultimately give way. Besides, if not -it will be all right. I should have no objection to a -little ‘Main line’ across France. These Frenchmen are -really very funny people. Favre comes to me with a -face like a martyred saint, and looks as if he had some -most important communication to make. So I say to -him, ‘Shall we go up stairs?’ ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘let us do -so.’ But when we are there he sits down and writes -letter after letter, and I wait in vain for any important -statement or piece of news from him. As a matter of -fact, he had nothing to say. What he has done for us -would go into two pages of note-paper.” “And this -Prefect of Police! I have never in my whole life met -such an unpractical man. We are expected to advise -and help them in everything. In the course of half an -hour he fires all sorts of requests into me, so that at -last I nearly lost patience, and said to him, ‘But, my -good sir, would it not be better to let me have all this -in writing? Otherwise it cannot be properly attended -to, for it is impossible for me to carry it all in my -head.’ Thousands of things pass through one’s mind, -and when I think seriously of one matter I lose sight -of all others.”</p> - -<p>The conversation then turned on the difficulty of -supplying the Parisians with provisions. Several railways<span class="pagenum" id="Page_522">[p. 522]</span> -were useless, at least for the time being; to allow -supplies to be drawn from those parts of France -immediately adjoining the districts we occupy might -result in scarcity and embarrassment to ourselves; and -the port of Dieppe, where they count upon receiving -consignments from abroad, could only hold a few -vessels. The Chief reckoned out how many rations -would be required daily, and how much could be transported -in moderately normal circumstances. He found -that the supply would be a very scanty one, and that -possibly large numbers might still have to starve. He -then added: “Favre himself said to me that they had -held out too long. That was, however, as he confessed, -merely because they knew we had provisions stored for -them at Lagny. They had exact particulars on that -point. At one time we had collected for them there -1,400 loaded waggons.”</p> - -<p>The levying of taxes and contributions was then -discussed, and the Chief explained to Maltzahn the -arrangements he wished to see made. Instead of -scattering our forces they should in general be massed -in the chief town of the department or arrondissement, -and from these centres flying columns should be -despatched against those who refused to pay taxes, as -well as against the guerillas and their aiders and -abettors.</p> - -<p>With regard to the ten million francs contribution -imposed upon the district of Fontenay for the destruction -of the railway bridges, Henckel declared, as an -expert, that that was an impossible demand—they could -not squeeze even two millions out of the people. -“Probably not one million,” remarked the Chief. “But -that is our way of doing things. All sorts of terrible -threats are constantly uttered, and then afterwards they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_523">[p. 523]</span> -cannot be carried out. The people end by seeing through -that sort of thing, and get accustomed to the threats.”</p> - -<p>Then followed a highly interesting and detailed -review of the various phases in the development of the -scheme for the accession of the South German states to -the Northern Confederation. “While we were still in -Mainz,” related the Chancellor, “the King of Bavaria -wrote a letter to our most gracious master in which he -expressed a hope that he would not be mediatised. As -a matter of course, his mind was set at ease on that -point. But the King did not want the answer to be -quite so categorical. That was the first conflict between -the King and myself during the war. I told him that -King Lewis would probably in that case withdraw his -troops, and that he would be within his right in doing -so. I remember it was in the corner room. It was a -hard struggle, and finally he left me still in doubt as to -what he was going to do. After the first great victories -and before Sedan, there was another idea, namely, that -of a military revolution and a military Emperor of -Germany, who should be proclaimed by the troops, -including the Bavarians. That idea was not to my -liking. Subsequently, when Bray came here, they had -thought out a plan of their own in Munich. They felt -themselves to be safe, and wished for something more. -Bray brought with him the plan of the alternating -imperial dignity. As Bray said to me, an agreement -could be come to between the North German Confederation -and Bavaria or between Germany and Bavaria. In -the meantime we might very well conclude treaties with -Baden and Würtemberg, and afterwards come to an -understanding with Bavaria. I was quite satisfied with -that. But when I told it to Delbrück, he looked as if -he were going to faint. I said to him, ‘For Heaven’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_524">[p. 524]</span> -sake, why not accept it? It is exactly what we want.’ -And so it was too. For when I informed Suckow and -Mittnacht, they were beside themselves with rage, and -immediately came to terms with me. Later on, however, -the King (of Würtemberg) was induced to strike -out again in a new line. It was through Frau von -Gasser, who had great influence at the Court in Stuttgart. -He wanted to act once more with Bavaria. The -Ministers, however, remained firm, and assured me they -would rather resign, and thus it came about that the -Treaty with Würtemberg was not concluded until afterwards -in Berlin. Finally, after all sorts of difficulties -on both sides, the arrangement with Bavaria was also -settled. Now there was only one thing wanting—but -that was the most important of all! I saw a way, and -wrote a letter—and after that the credit belongs to a -Bavarian Court official. He achieved an almost impossible -feat. In six days he made the journey there -and back, eighteen German miles, without a railway, to -the palace in the mountains where the King was staying—and -in addition to that his wife was ill at the time. -It was really a great deal for him to do. He arrives at -the palace, finds the King unwell—suffering from a -tumour in the gum, or from the after effects of an operation -under chloroform. He is not to be seen. Well, -but he had a letter from me to deliver—very pressing. -In vain; the King will not be disturbed; he will do no -business to-day. At last his Majesty’s curiosity is -aroused, and he wants to know what I have to communicate -to him—and the letter is well received. But -there is no ink, no paper, no writing materials. They -send off a groom, who ultimately comes back with some -coarse letter paper; the King writes his answer, just as -he is, in bed—and the German Empire is made!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_525">[p. 525]</span></p> - -<p>Jacoby’s arrest having been mentioned, the Chief -observed: “Otherwise, Falkenstein acted quite sensibly, -but thanks to that measure of his and to his refusal to -release Jacoby when I requested him to do so, we were -unable to convoke the Diet for a whole month. As far -as I am concerned, he might have had Jacoby carved -up for himself into rhinoceros cutlets, but he ought not -to have locked him up! All he had to show for his -pains was the possession of a dried up old Jew. The -King, too, would not at first listen to my representations. -We were accordingly obliged to wait, as the -Diet would have been within its right in demanding his -liberation.”</p> - -<p>Jacoby’s name brought up that of another congenial -mind, viz., Waldeck (the Radical leader in the Prussian -Diet), of whom the Chief gave the following description: -“Something like Favre, always consistent, his views -and decisions cut and dried in advance, and, in addition -to that, a stately presence and a venerable white beard, -fine speeches delivered with the earnestness of deep-toned -conviction, even on trifling matters, that is so -impressive! He makes a speech in a voice throbbing -with devotion to principle in order to prove to you that -this spoon is in the glass, and he proclaims that any one -who refuses to accept that statement is a scoundrel! -And all the world believes him, and praises him for his -staunchness in every key from treble to bass.”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, January 31st.</i>—The King of Sweden has -delivered a bellicose speech from the throne. Why, ye -gods? I write two paragraphs under instructions from -the Chief, and then a third, which calls attention to -the sufferings during the bombardment of a number of -inoffensive German families who, for various reasons, -remained behind in Paris after the expulsion of their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_526">[p. 526]</span> -fellow countrymen, and commend Washburne, the -United States Minister, for the efforts he made to -alleviate the lot of these unfortunate people. In this -respect he has really acted in a manner that deserves -our warmest thanks, and has been loyally assisted by -his subordinates.</p> - -<p>The Parisian gentlemen are again here, including -Favre, who has sent a telegram to Gambetta urgently -requesting him to yield. It is to be feared he will not -do so. At least the Prefect of Marseilles is showing his -teeth and snarling at poor Favre with the patriotic -declaration: “<span lang="fr">Je n’obéis plus le capitule de Bismarck. -Je ne le connais plus</span>.” Proud and staunch—but danger -is best at a distance.</p> - -<p>At tea I hear from Bucher that the Chief has been -speaking very strongly about Garibaldi, that old -dreamer, whom Favre declares to be a hero.</p> - -<p>Subsequently Duparc had an interview with the -Minister. Shortly after ten the Chief joined us at -tea. He first spoke of the unpractical character of the -Frenchmen who have been working with him during -the past few days. Two Ministers, Favre and Magnin, -the Minister of Finance who has accompanied him this -time, spent half an hour to-day worrying over one -telegram. This led him to speak of the French in -general and of the entire Latin race, and to compare -them with the Germanic peoples. “The Germans, the -Germanic race,” he said, “is, so to speak, the male -principle throughout Europe—the fructifying principle. -The Celtic and Slav peoples represent the female sex. -That principle extends as far as the North Sea and -then across to England.” I ventured to add: “And -also as far as America and the Western States of the -Union, where some of our people form the best part of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_527">[p. 527]</span> -the population and influence the manners of the rest.” -“Yes,” he replied, “those are their children, the fruit -they bear.” “But that was to be seen in France while -the Franks had still the upper hand. The Revolution -of 1789 was the overthrow of the Germanic element by -the Celtic. And what have we seen since then? And -this held good in Spain so long as the Gothic blood -predominated. And also in Italy, where in the North -the Germans also played a leading part. When that -element had exhausted itself, there was nothing decent -left. It was much the same thing in Russia, where the -Germanic Waräger, the Ruriks, first bound them -together. As soon as the natives there prevail over -the German immigrants and the Germans of the Baltic -Provinces, they fall asunder into mere communes.” -“It is true that the unmixed Germans are not of much -account either. In the south and west where they -were left to themselves, there were only Knights of -the Empire, Imperial Towns, and Immediate Villages -of the Empire, each for itself, and all tumbling to -pieces. The Germans are all right when they are -forced to unite—excellent, irresistible, invincible—otherwise -each one will act according to his own ideas.” -“Really, after all, an intelligent absolutism is the best -form of government. Without a certain amount of it -everything falls asunder. One wishes this thing and -another that, there is eternal vacillation, eternal delays.” -“But we have no longer any genuine absolutists—that -is to say, no kings. They have disappeared. -The variety has died out.” “A Republic is perhaps -after all the right form of government, and it will -doubtless come in the future; but I dislike our -Republicans. Formerly things were different, when -princes still appeared in brocaded coats and covered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_528">[p. 528]</span> -with stars. They are declining everywhere, and that -decline will be much greater in future. One sees that -in the younger generation. It is the case with us also. -No more <i lang="fr">rocher de bronce.</i> They no longer want to -govern, and are glad when some one relieves them of -the trouble. All they care for is to be praised in the -newspapers, and to get as much money as possible for -their personal requirements. The only one who still -conducts his business properly is the old King of -Saxony.” “And when they sit at the <i lang="fr">table d’hôte</i> in -the Hôtel des Reservoirs, here near the Palace of -Louis <abbr title="14">XIV.</abbr>, and every one sees that they are ordinary -human beings—and how ordinary!—why, the halo is -quite lost. And then one fine morning three Grand -Dukes pay their respects to me, and find me in my -dressing gown!”</p> - -<p>I ventured to relate that as a little child I pictured -to myself the King of Saxony, who was the only -monarch I knew of at that time, as resembling the king -in the pack of cards—clad in ermine, and wearing a -crown with orb and sceptre, stiff, gorgeous, and imperturbable: -and that it was a fearful disappointment for -me when my nurse once pointed out to me a gentleman -in the passage between the palace and the Catholic -church in Dresden, and told me that that little, crooked, -frail, old man, whose uniform became him so badly, was -King Anton. The Chief said:—“Our peasants also -had very curious conceptions, and the following -story was current amongst them. It was to the -effect that on one occasion, when a number of us -young people were gathered together in some public -place, we said something against the King, who -happened to be close to us, but was unknown to us. He -suddenly stood up, opened his mantle and showed the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_529">[p. 529]</span> -star on his breast. The others were terrified, but it did -not affect me, and I pitched him down the stairs. I -received ten years imprisonment for it and was not -allowed to shave myself. As I wore a beard at that -time, a habit which I had acquired in France (1842) -where it was then the fashion, it was said that the -executioner came once every year on St. Sylvester’s -night to shave it off. Those who told this story were -rich peasants and otherwise not at all stupid, and they -repeated it, not because they had anything against me -but quite in a friendly way, and full of sympathy for a -young man’s rashness. The pitching down stairs was -rather a coarse invention, but I was pleased all the same -that it was only to me they gave credit for not being -intimidated by the star.”</p> - -<p>I thereupon asked the Chief if there was any truth -in the story of the beer glass he was said to have broken -on some one’s head in a Berlin restaurant because he -had insulted the Queen or refused to drink her health. -“It was quite different,” he replied, “and had no political -significance whatever. As I was going home late one -evening—it must have been in the year 1847—I met -some one who tried to pick a quarrel with me. As I -pulled him up on account of his language, I discovered -that he was an old acquaintance. We had not seen -each other for a long time, and on his proposing to me, -‘Come, let’s go to ——’ (he mentioned a name), I went -with him, although I really had had enough already. -But after getting our beer he fell asleep. Now there -were a lot of people sitting near us, one of whom had -also taken more than he could carry, and who was -attracting attention by his noisy behaviour. I quietly -drank my beer, and this man got angry at my being so -quiet and began to taunt me. I took no notice, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_530">[p. 530]</span> -that made him only the more angry and his language -grew more and more violent. I did not want to have -any quarrel, nor did I like to go away, as people would -have thought I was afraid. At last, however, he came -over to my table and threatened to throw the beer in -my face. That was too much for me. I stood up and -told him to go away, and as he made a motion -to throw the beer at me, I gave him a blow under the -chin, so that he fell backwards, breaking the chair and -the glass, and rolled across the room right on to the -wall. The landlady then came and I told her she need -not worry, as I would pay for the chair and the beer -glass. I said to the others: ‘You are witnesses, gentlemen, -that I did not seek a quarrel, and that I endured -it as long as possible. But I cannot be expected to -allow a glass of beer to be poured on my head simply -because I was quietly drinking my glass. If the gentleman -has lost a tooth in consequence I shall be -sorry. But I was obliged to defend myself. Besides, -if anybody wishes to know more, here is my card.’ -It turned out that they were quite sensible people -and took my view of the case. They were annoyed -with their comrade and acknowledged that I was in -the right. I afterwards met two of them at the -Brandenburg Gate. I said: ‘I think, gentlemen; you -were present when I had that affair in the beer house in -the Jägerstrasse. What has happened to my adversary? -I should be sorry if he had been hurt.’ I must explain -to you that he had to be carried away on that occasion. -‘Oh,’ they replied; ‘he is all right, and his teeth are -quite sound again. He is altogether subdued, and -extremely sorry for what he did. He had just entered -the army to serve his year, as he is a doctor, and it -would have been very unpleasant for him if people had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_531">[p. 531]</span> -heard of the affair, and especially if it had come to the -knowledge of his superiors.’”</p> - -<p>The Chief then related that when he was attending -the University at Göttingen he fought twenty-eight -students’ duels in three terms, and was always lucky -enough to escape with a whole skin. Once his opponent’s -blade flew off, probably because it was badly -screwed in, and caught him in the face, where it remained -sticking. Otherwise he had never received a -scar. “I had one very narrow escape, though, at -Greifswald. There they had introduced an extraordinary -head-dress, a white felt, sugar-loaf hat, and I took it into -my head that I must snip off the top of the sugar-loaf, -and thus I exposed myself so that his blade whizzed by -close to my face. I bent back, however, in good time.”</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, February 1st.</i>—It was stated at lunch -that Gambetta had approved of the armistice, but expressed -surprise that we still continued to attack the -French in the south-east. Favre, with his unbusinesslike -habits, had omitted to telegraph to him that -operations were not suspended there. This, by the -way, was at his own request.</p> - -<p>There were no guests at lunch. The Minister, -speaking about Favre, said: “I believe he came here -to-day merely in consequence of our conversation of -yesterday, when I would not acknowledge that Garibaldi -was a hero. He was evidently anxious about him, -because I would not include him in the armistice. He -pointed to the first article like a thorough lawyer. I -said: ‘Yes, that was the rule, but the exceptions followed, -and Garibaldi comes under them.’ I quite -understood that a Frenchman should bear arms against -us—he defended his country, and had a right to do so; -but I could not recognise the right of this foreign<span class="pagenum" id="Page_532">[p. 532]</span> -adventurer with his cosmopolitan Republic and his -band of revolutionaries from every corner of the earth. -He asked me then what we should do with Garibaldi in -case we took him prisoner. ‘Oh,’ I said, ‘we will exhibit -him for money, and hang a placard round his neck -bearing the word “Ingratitude.”’”</p> - -<p>The Chief then asked: “But where is Scheidtmann?” -Somebody told him. “He will have, I think, -to give me legal advice in the matter” (viz., the war -contribution of two hundred millions to be paid by -Paris). “Is he not a lawyer?” Bucher said no, he -had not studied at all, was originally a tradesman, &c. -The Chief: “Well, then, Bleichröder must first go into -action. He must go into Paris immediately, smell and -be smelt at by his brethren in the faith, and discuss with -the bankers how it is to be done. Surely he is -coming?” Keudell: “Yes, in a few days.” The -Chief: “Please telegraph him at once, that we want -him immediately—then it will be Scheidtmann’s turn. -I suppose he can speak French?” No one could say. -“I am disposed to select Henckel as the third string. -He is well acquainted with Paris, and knows the -financiers. A member of the <i lang="fr">haute finance</i> once said -to me: ‘On the Stock Exchange we always lay our -money on lucky players,’ and if we are to follow that -rule Count Henckel is our man.”</p> - -<p><i lang="fr">À propos</i> of German unity, the Minister told us -that thirty years ago, at Göttingen, he had made a bet -with an American as to whether Germany would be -united within twenty-five years. “The winner was to -provide twenty-five bottles of champagne, and the loser -was to cross the ocean to drink them. The American -wagered against union, and I in favour. The interesting -point is that, as far back as 1833, I must have had the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_533">[p. 533]</span> -idea which has now, with God’s help, been realised, -although at that time I was opposed to all those who -professed to desire such a change.”</p> - -<p>Finally, the Chief declared his belief in the influence -of the moon on the growth of the hair and of plants. -This subject came up through his jocularly congratulating -Abeken on the style in which his locks had been -trimmed. “You look twice as young, Herr Geheimrath,” -he said. “If I were only your wife! You have had it -cut exactly at the right time, under a crescent moon. It -is just the same as with trees. When they are intended -to shoot again they are felled when the moon is in the -first quarter, but when they are to be rooted up then it -is done in the last quarter, as in that case the stump -decays sooner. There are people who will not believe it, -learned men, but the State itself acts on this belief, -although it will not openly confess to it. No woodman -will think of felling a birch tree which is intended to -throw out shoots when the moon is waning.”</p> - -<p>After dinner I read a number of documents relating -to the armistice and the revictualling of Paris, including -several letters in Favre’s own hand, which is neat and -legible. One of the letters states that Paris has only -flour enough to last up to the 4th of February, and -after that nothing but horseflesh. Moltke is requested -by the Chief not to treat Garibaldi on the same footing -as the French, and in any case to demand that he and -his followers shall lay down their arms—the Minister -desires this to be done on political grounds. Instructions -have been sent to Alsace that the elections for the -Assembly at Bordeaux, which is to decide as to the continuance -of the war, or peace, and eventually as to the -conditions on which the latter is to be concluded, are -not to be hindered, but rather ignored. The elections<span class="pagenum" id="Page_534">[p. 534]</span> -are to be conducted by the Maires and not by the Prefects -in the districts we occupy.</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, February 2nd.</i>—We were joined at -dinner by Odo Russell, and a tall stout young gentleman -in a dark blue uniform, who, I was told, was Count Bray, -a son of the Minister, and formerly attached to the -Bavarian Embassy in Berlin. The Chief said to Russell: -“The English newspapers and also some German ones -have censured my letter to Favre and consider it too -sharply worded. He himself, however, does not appear -to be of that opinion. He said of his own accord: ‘You -were right in reminding me of my duty. I ought not to -leave before this is finished.’ The Minister praised this -self-abnegation. He then repeated that our Parisians -were unpractical people and that we had constantly to -counsel and assist them. He added that they now -wished apparently to ask for alterations in the Convention -of the 28th of January. Outside Paris little disposition -was shown to help in reprovisioning the city. The -directors of the Rouen-Dieppe railway, for instance, -upon whom they had relied for assistance, declared there -was not enough rolling stock, as the locomotives had -been taken to pieces and sent to England. Gambetta’s -attitude was still doubtful, and he seemed to contemplate -a continuation of the war. It was necessary that France -should soon have a proper Government.” “If one is not -speedily established I shall give them a sovereign. -Everything is already prepared. Amadeus arrived in -Madrid with a travelling bag in his hand as King of -Spain, and he seems to get on all right. My sovereign -will come immediately with a retinue, Ministers, cooks, -chamberlains, and an army.”</p> - -<p>With regard to Napoleon’s fortune, very different -opinions were expressed. Some said it was large, others<span class="pagenum" id="Page_535">[p. 535]</span> -that it was inconsiderable. Russell doubted if he had -much. He thought the Empress at least could not have -much, as she had only deposited £6,000 in the Bank of -England. The Chancellor then related that on the way -to Saint Cloud to-day he met many people removing their -furniture and bedding. Probably they were inhabitants -of neighbouring villages, who had nevertheless been -unable to leave Paris. “The women looked quite -friendly,” he said, “but on catching sight of the uniforms -the men began to scowl and struck heroic attitudes. -That reminds me that in the old Neapolitan army they -had a word of command, when we say, ‘Prepare to -charge, right!’ the command was ‘<span lang="it">Faccia feroce!</span>’ (Look -ferocious!). A fine presence, a pompous style of speech, -and a theatrical attitude are everything with the French. -So long as it sounds right and looks well the substance -is a matter of indifference. It reminds me of a citizen -of Potsdam who once told me he had been deeply impressed -by a speech of Radowitz’s. I asked him to show -me the passage that had particularly stirred his feelings. -He could not mention one. I then took the speech itself -and read it through to him in order to discover its -beauties, but it turned out that there was nothing in it -either pathetic or sublime. As a matter of fact it was -merely the air and attitude of Radowitz, who looked as -if he were speaking of something most profound and -significant and thrillingly impressive,—the thoughtful -mien, the contemplative eye, and the sonorous and -weighty voice. It was much the same with Waldeck, -although he was not nearly such a clever man nor so -distinguished looking. In his case it was more the -white beard and the staunch convictions. The gift of -eloquence has greatly spoilt Parliamentary life. A great -deal of time is consumed as every one who thinks he has<span class="pagenum" id="Page_536">[p. 536]</span> -anything in him wants to speak, even when he has -nothing new to say. There are far too many speeches -that simply float in the air and pass out through the -windows, and too few that go straight to the point. -The parties have already settled everything beforehand, -and the set speeches are merely intended for the public, -to show what members can do, and more especially for -the newspapers that are expected to praise them. It -will come to this in the end, that eloquence will be -regarded as dangerous to the public welfare, and that -people will be punished for making long speeches. We -have one body,” he continued, “that is not in the least -eloquent, and has nevertheless done more for the German -cause than any other, that is the Federal Council. I remember, -indeed, that at first some attempts were made in -that direction. I cut them short, however, though as a -matter of fact I had no right to do so, albeit I was -President. I addressed them much as follows: ‘Gentlemen, -eloquence and speeches intended to affect people’s -convictions are of no use here, as every one brings his -own convictions with him in his pocket—that is to -say, his instructions. It is merely waste of time. I think -we had better restrict ourselves to statements of fact.’ -And so we did. No one made a big speech after that, -business was speedily transacted, and the Federal -Council has really done a great deal of good.”</p> - -<p><i>Friday, February 3rd.</i>—In addition to a violently -warlike proclamation, Gambetta has issued a decree -declaring a number of persons ineligible for the new -Representative Assembly. “Justice demands that all -those who have been accessory to the acts of the -Government which began with the outrage of the 2nd -of December, and ended with the capitulation of Sedan, -should now be reduced to the same political impotence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_537">[p. 537]</span> -as the dynasty whose accomplices and tools they were. -That is a necessary consequence of the responsibility -which they assumed in carrying out the Emperor’s -measures. These include all persons who have occupied -the positions of Minister, Senator, Councillor of State, -or Prefect from the 2nd of December, 1851, to the -4th of September, 1870. Furthermore, all persons who, -in the elections to the legislative bodies during the -period from the 2nd of December, 1851, to the 4th of -September, 1870, have been put forward in any way as -Government candidates, as well as the members of -those families that have reigned in France since 1789, -are ineligible for election.”</p> - -<p>The Chief instructs me to telegraph to London and -Cologne with respect to this decree, that the Government -at Bordeaux has declared whole classes of the -population—Ministers, Senators, Councillors of State, -and all who have formerly been official candidates—as -ineligible for election. The apprehension expressed by -Count Bismarck during the negotiations for the Convention -of the 28th of January, that freedom of suffrage -could not be secured, has thus been confirmed. In -consequence of that apprehension the Chancellor of the -Confederation at that time proposed the convocation of -the Corps Législatif, but Favre would not agree to it. -The Chancellor has now protested in a Note against the -exclusion of these classes. Only an Assembly that has -been freely elected, as provided by the Convention, will -be recognised by Germany as representing France.</p> - -<p>Count Herbert Bismarck arrived this evening from -Germany.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, February 4th.</i>—The Chief has protested -against Gambetta’s decree in a telegram to Gambetta -himself and in a note to Favre. The telegram runs:<span class="pagenum" id="Page_538">[p. 538]</span> -“In the name of the freedom guaranteed by the -Armistice Convention, I protest against the decree -issued in your name which robs numerous classes of -French citizens of the right to be elected to the -Assembly. The rights guaranteed by that Convention -to the freely elected representatives of the country cannot -be acquired through elections conducted under an -oppressive and arbitrary rule.” The despatch to Favre -after giving an epitome of Gambetta’s decree, goes on -to say: “I have the honour to ask your Excellency if -you consider this to be in harmony with the stipulation -of the Convention that the Assembly is to be freely -elected? Allow me to recall to your Excellency’s -memory the negotiations which preceded the arrangement -of the 28th of January. Already at that time I -expressed the apprehension that in presence of the conditions -then prevailing it would be difficult to secure -the entire freedom of the elections, and to prevent -attempts being made to restrict it. In consequence of -that apprehension, the justice of which <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Gambetta’s -circular of to-day seems to confirm, I raised the question -whether it would not be better to convoke the -Corps Législatif, which would constitute a legal -authority returned by universal suffrage. Your Excellency -declined to adopt that suggestion and expressly -promised that no pressure should be exercised upon the -electors, and that perfect freedom of voting should be -secured. I appeal to your Excellency’s sense of -rectitude in requesting you to say whether the exclusion -of whole categories laid down as a matter of principle in -the decree in question is in harmony with the freedom -of election guaranteed in the Convention of the 28th -of January? I believe I may confidently express the -hope that the decree in question, the application of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_539">[p. 539]</span> -which would appear to be an infraction of the stipulations -of that Convention, will be immediately withdrawn -and that the Government of National Defence will take -the necessary measures to ensure the freedom of election -guaranteed by Article <abbr title="2">II.</abbr> We could not grant to -persons elected in pursuance of the Bordeaux decree the -rights secured by the Armistice to the members of -the Assembly.”</p> - -<p>After 10 o’clock I was called to the Chief, who said: -“They complain in Berlin that the English papers are -much better informed than ours, and that we have communicated -so little to our journals respecting the -negotiations for the armistice. How has that come -about?” I replied: “The fact is, Excellency, that the -English have more money and go everywhere to get -information. Besides, they stand well with certain -august personages who know everything, and finally the -military authorities are not always very reserved with -regard to matters that ought, for the time being, to be -kept secret. I, of course, can only make public what -it is proper that the public should know.” “Well, -then,” he said, “just write and explain how it is that -the extraordinary state of affairs here is to blame, and -not we.”</p> - -<p>I then took the opportunity of congratulating him -on the freedom of the city of Leipzig, which has been -conferred upon him within the last few days, and I -added that it was a good city, the best in Saxony, and -one for which I had always had a great regard. “Yes,” -he replied. “Now I am a Saxon, too, and a Hamburger, -for they have also presented me with the freedom of -Hamburg. One would hardly have expected that from -them in 1866.”</p> - -<p>As I was leaving he said: “That reminds me—it is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_540">[p. 540]</span> -also one of the wonders of our time—please write an -article showing up the extraordinary action of Gambetta, -who after posing so long as the champion of liberty and -denouncing the Government for influencing the elections, -is now laying violent hands on the freedom of -suffrage. He wants to disqualify all those who differ -from him, <i>i.e.</i>, the whole official world of France with -the exception of thirteen Republicans. It is certainly -very odd that I should have to defend such a principle -against Gambetta and his associate and ally Garibaldi.” -I said: “I do not know whether it was intended, but in -your despatch to Gambetta the contrast is very striking -where you protest, <i lang="fr">au nom de la liberté des élections</i> -against <i lang="fr">les dispositions en votre nom pour priver des -catégories nombreuses du droit d’être élues</i>.” “Yes,” he -replied, “you might also mention that Thiers, after his -negotiations with me, described me as an amiable barbarian—<i lang="fr">un -barbare aimable</i>. Now they call me in Paris -a crafty barbarian—<i lang="fr">un barbare astutieux</i>, and perhaps -to-morrow I shall be <i lang="fr">un barbare constitutionnel</i>.”</p> - -<p>The Chief had more time and interest for the -newspapers this morning than during the past few -days. I was called to him six times before midday. -On one occasion he handed me a lying French -pamphlet, “<i lang="fr">La Guerre comme la font les Prussiens</i>,” -and observed: “Please write to Berlin that they should -put together something of this description from our -point of view, quoting all the cruelties, barbarities, -and breaches of the Geneva Convention committed by -the French. Not too much however, or no one will -read it, and it must be done speedily.” Later on the -Minister handed me a small journal published by a -certain Armand le Chevalier at 61 Rue Richelieu, with -a woodcut of the Chancellor of the Confederation as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_541">[p. 541]</span> -frontispiece. The Chief said: “Look at this. Here is -a man who refers to the attempt by Blind, and recommends -that I should be murdered, and at the same time -gives my portrait—like the photographs carried by the -franctireurs. You know that in the forests of the -Ardennes the portraits of our rangers were found in the -pockets of the franctireurs who were to shoot them. -Luckily it cannot be said that this is a particularly -good likeness of me—and the biography is no better.” -Then reading over a passage and handing me the -paper, he said: “This portion should be made use of -in the press, and afterwards be introduced in the -pamphlet.”</p> - -<p>Finally he gave me some more French newspapers -saying: “Look through these and see if there is -anything in them for me or for the King. I must -manage to get away or I shall be caught by our Paris -friends again.”</p> - -<p>Prince Putbus and Count Lehndorff joined us at -dinner. The Chief related how he had called Favre’s -attention to the singular circumstance that he, Count -von Bismarck, who had been denounced as a tyrant and -a despot, had to protest in the name of liberty against -Gambetta’s proclamation. Favre agreed, with a “<i lang="fr">Oui, -c’est bien drôle.</i>” The restriction on the freedom of -election decreed by Gambetta has, however, now been -withdrawn by the Paris section of the French Government. -“He announced that to me this morning in -writing, and he had previously given me a verbal -assurance.”</p> - -<p>It was then mentioned that several German newspapers -were dissatisfied with the capitulation, as they -expected our troops to march into Paris at once. “That -comes,” said the Chief, “of a complete misapprehension<span class="pagenum" id="Page_542">[p. 542]</span> -of the situation here and in Paris. I could have -managed Favre, but the population! They have -strong barricades and 300,000 men of whom certainly -100,000 would have fought. Blood enough -has been shed in this war—enough German blood. -Had we appealed to force much more would have -been spilt—in the excited condition of the people. -And merely to inflict one additional humiliation upon -them—that would have been too dearly bought.” After -reflecting for a moment, he continued: “And who told -them that we shall not still enter Paris and occupy a -portion of it? Or at least march through, when they -have cooled down and come to reason. The armistice -will probably be prolonged, and then, in return for our -readiness to make concessions, we can demand the occupation -of the city on the right bank of the river. I -think we shall be there in about three weeks.” “The -24th”—he reflected for a moment—“yes, it was on the -24th that the Constitution of the North German Confederation -was made public. It was also on the 24th of -February, 1859, that we had to submit to certain -particularly mean treatment. I told them that it would -have to be expiated. <i lang="la">Exoriare aliquis.</i> I am only -sorry that the Würtemberg Minister to the Bundestag, -old Reinhard, has not lived to see it. Prokesch has -though, and I am glad of that, because he was the worst. -According to a despatch from Constantinople, which I -read this morning, Prokesch is now quite in agreement -with us, praises the energies and intelligence of Prussia’s -policy, and (here the Minister smiled scornfully) has -always, or at least for a long time past, recommended -co-operation with us.”</p> - -<p>The Chief had been to Mont Valérien to-day. “I -was never there before,” he said, “and when one sees<span class="pagenum" id="Page_543">[p. 543]</span> -the strong works and the numerous contrivances for -defence—we should have terrible losses in storming it. -One dares not even think of it.”</p> - -<p>The Minister said one of the objects of Favre’s visit -to-day was to request that the masses of country people -who had fled to Paris in September should be allowed to -leave. They were mostly inhabitants of the environs -and there must be nearly 300,000 of them, “I declined -permission,” he continued, “explaining to him that -our soldiers now occupied their houses. If the owners -came out and saw how their property had been -wrecked and ruined they would be furious, and no -blame to them, and they would upbraid our people and -then there might be dangerous brawls and perhaps -something still worse.” The Chancellor had also -been to St. Cloud, and whilst he was looking at the -burnt palace and recalling to mind the condition -of the room in which he had dined with Napoleon, there -was a well-dressed Frenchman there—probably from -Paris—who was being shown round by a man in a blouse. -“I could catch every word they said, as they spoke aloud, -and I have sharp ears. ‘<span lang="fr">C’est l’œuvre de Bismarck</span>,’ -said the man in the blouse, but the other merely replied -‘<span lang="fr">C’est la guerre</span>.’ If they had only known that I was -listening to them!”</p> - -<p>Count Bismarck-Bohlen mentioned that the Landwehr, -somewhere in this neighbourhood, gave a refractory -Frenchman, who tried to stab an officer with a penknife, -seventy-five blows with the flat of the sword. “Seventy-five!” -said the Chief. “H’m, that, after all, is somewhat -too much.” Somebody related a similar instance that -had occurred in the neighbourhood of Meaux. As Count -Herbert was passing recently, a miller, who had abused -Count Bismarck and said he wished he had him between<span class="pagenum" id="Page_544">[p. 544]</span> -two millstones, was laid flat by the soldiers and so fearfully -beaten that he was not able to stir for a couple of -hours.</p> - -<p>The election addresses posted on the walls by the -candidates for the National Assembly were then discussed, -and it was observed that, in general, they were still -very aggressive, and promised to achieve wonders at -Bordeaux. “Yes,” said the Chief; “I quite believe that. -Favre also tried once or twice to ride the high horse. -But it did not last long. I always brought him down -with a jesting remark.”</p> - -<p>Some one referred to the speech made by Klaczko -on the 30th of January in the Delegation of the -Reichsrath against Austria’s co-operation with Prussia, -and to Giskra’s revelation in the morning edition of the -<cite lang="de">National Zeitung</cite> of the 2nd of February. Giskra said -that Bismarck wished to send him from Brünn to Vienna -with proposals for peace. These were, in effect: Apart -from the maintenance in Venetia of the <i lang="la">status quo</i> -before the war, the Main line was to be recognised as -the limit of Prussian ascendancy, there was to be no war -indemnity, but French mediation was to be excluded. -Giskra sent Baron Herring to Vienna with these -proposals. The latter was, however, coolly received by -Moritz Esterhazy, and after waiting for sixteen hours -obtained only an evasive answer. On proceeding to -Nikolsburg, Herring found Benedetti already there, and -was told: “You come too late.” As Giskra points out, -the French mediation accordingly cost Austria a war -indemnity of thirty millions. It was observed that -Prussia could have extorted more from Austria at that -time, and also a cession of territory, for instance, -Austrian Silesia, and perhaps Bohemia. The Chief -replied: “Possibly, as for money, what more could the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_545">[p. 545]</span> -poor devils give? Bohemia would have been something -and there were people who entertained the thought. -But we should have created difficulties for ourselves in -that way, and Austrian Silesia was not of much value to -us; for just there the devotion to the Imperial house and -the Austrian connection was greater than elsewhere. -In such cases one must ask for what one really wants -and not what one might be able to get.”</p> - -<p>In this connection he related that on one occasion, as -he was walking about in mufti at Nikolsburg, he met -two policemen who wished to arrest a man. “I asked -what he had done, but of course as a civilian I got no -answer. I then inquired of the man himself, who told -me that it was because he had spoken disrespectfully of -Count Bismarck. They nearly took me along with him -because I said that doubtless many others had done the -same.”</p> - -<p>“That reminds me that I was once obliged to join -in a cheer for myself. It was in 1866, in the evening, -after the entry of the troops. I was unwell just then, -and my wife did not wish to let me go out. I went, -however—on the sly—and as I was about to cross the -street again near the palace of Prince Charles, there -was a great crowd of people collected there, who desired -to give me an ovation. I was in plain clothes, -and with my broad brimmed hat pulled down over my -eyes, I perhaps looked like a suspicious character—I -don’t know why. As some of them seemed inclined to -be unpleasant, I thought the best thing to do was to -join in their hurrah.”</p> - -<p>From 8 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> on read drafts and despatches, including -Favre’s answer to the Chief in the matter of Gambetta’s -electioneering manœuvre. It runs as follows:—</p> - -<p>“You are right in appealing to my sense of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_546">[p. 546]</span> -rectitude. You shall never find it fail me in my -dealings with you. It is perfectly true that your -Excellency strongly urged upon me as the sole way out -of the difficulty to convoke the former legislative bodies. -I declined to adopt that course for various reasons which -it is needless to recall, but which you will doubtless not -have forgotten. In reply to your Excellency’s objections, -I said I was convinced that my country only -desired the free exercise of the suffrage, and that its -sole resource lay in the popular sovereignty. That will -make it clear to you that I cannot agree to the restrictions -that have been imposed upon the franchise. I -have not opposed the system of official candidatures in -order to revive it now for the benefit of the present -Government. Your Excellency may therefore rest -assured that if the decree mentioned in your letter to -me has been issued by the Delegation at Bordeaux, it -will be withdrawn by the Government of National -Defence. For this purpose I only require to obtain -official evidence of the existence of the decree in -question. This will be done by means of a telegram to -be despatched to-day. There are, therefore, no differences -of opinion between us, and we must both -continue to co-operate in resolutely carrying into -execution the Convention which we have signed.”</p> - -<p>Called to the Chief at 9 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> He wants to have an -article written pointing out that the entry of our troops -into Paris is at present impracticable, but may be -possible later on. This is in answer in the <cite lang="de">National -Zeitung</cite> to an article criticising the terms of armistice.</p> - -<p>With regard to an article in the <cite lang="de">Cologne Volkszeitung</cite> -showing that the Ultramontanes have offered a -subsidy to the leaders of the General Association of -German Workers on condition that they promote the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_547">[p. 547]</span> -election of clerical candidates, the Minister says: -“Look here. Please see that the newspapers speak of -a ‘Savigny-Bebel party’ whenever an opportunity -occurs, and that must be repeated.” And just as I am -going out of the room he calls after me: “Or the -‘Liebknecht-Savigny party.’” We take note of that, -and shall speak from time to time of this new party.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, February 5th.</i>—We are joined at dinner -by Favre, d’Hérisson, and the Director of the Western -Railway, a man with a broad, comfortable, smiling face, -apparently about thirty-six years of age. Favre, who -sits next to the Chief, looks anxious, worried and depressed. -His head hangs on one side, and sometimes -for a change sinks on to his breast, his underlip -following suit. When he is not eating, he lays his two -hands on the table-cloth, one on top of the other, in -submission to the decrees of fate, or he crosses his arms -in the style of Napoleon the First, a sign that, on closer -consideration, he still feels confident in himself. During -dinner the Chief speaks only French, and mostly in a -low voice, and I am too tired to follow the conversation.</p> - -<p>The Chief instructs me to send the following short -paragraph to one of our newspapers: The <cite lang="de">Kölnische -Zeitung</cite> has made itself the organ, it is true with some -reservations, of those who complain of the alleged -destruction of French forests by our officials. One -would think it could have found some other occupation -than to scrutinise our administration of the public -forests of France. We act in accordance with the -principles of forestry, even if we do not follow the -French system. Moreover, we should be within our -rights if we exploited these resources of the enemy in -the most ruthless manner, as that would render the -French more disposed to conclude peace.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_548">[p. 548]</span></p> - -<p>He also warmly praised the active part taken by the -Duke of Meiningen in the conduct of the war. He concluded: -“I wish that to be mentioned in the press. -The background is ready to hand in the princely loafing -and palace looting of the rest of them.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, February 6th.</i>—The Chief desires to have -an article against Gambetta published in the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite>. -I write the following:—</p> - -<p>“The Convention of the 28th of January, concluded -between Count von Bismarck and <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Jules Favre, has -revived the hopes of all sincere friends of peace. Since -the events of the 4th of September the military honour -of Germany has received sufficient satisfaction, so that -it may now yield to the desire to enter into negotiations -with a Government which truly represents the French -nation for a peace that will guarantee the fruits of -victory and secure our future. When the Governments -represented at Versailles and Paris finally succeeded in -coming to an understanding, of which the conditions -were prescribed by the force of circumstances, and -France was restored to herself, they were justified in -expecting that these preliminaries of a new era in the -relations of the two countries would be generally -respected. The decree issued by <abbr title="Monsieur" lang="fr">M.</abbr> Gambetta disqualifying -all former functionaries and dignitaries, -senators, and official candidates from election to the -National Assembly was perhaps necessary to show -France the abyss towards which it has been gravitating -since the dictatorship, sacrificing the best blood of the -country, refused to convoke the representatives of the -nation in the regular way.</p> - -<p>“The second article of the Convention of the 28th -of January shows clearly and plainly that the freedom -of the elections is one of the conditions of the Convention<span class="pagenum" id="Page_549">[p. 549]</span> -itself. In entering into such an arrangement -for the elections, Germany only took into consideration -the existing French laws, and not the good will and -pleasure of this or that popular Tribune. It would be -just as easy to call together a Rump Parliament in -Bordeaux, and make it a tool for the subjection of the -other half of France. We are convinced that all honourable -and sincere French patriots will protest against the -action of the Delegation at Bordeaux, which is entirely -arbitrary and opposed to all sound reason. If there -were any prospect that this action would be allowed to -unite all the anarchical parties who tolerate the dictatorship -in so far as it represents their favourite ideas, -the most serious complications would inevitably ensue.</p> - -<p>“Germany does not intend to interfere in any way -in the domestic affairs of France. She has, however, -through the agreement of the 28th of January, secured -the right to see that a public authority is established -which will possess the attributes necessary to enable it -to negotiate peace in the name of France. If Germany -is denied the right to negotiate for peace with the whole -nation, if an attempt is made to substitute the representatives -of a faction for the representatives of the -nation, the armistice convention would thereby become -null and void. We readily acknowledge that the -Government of National Defence has immediately recognised -the justice of the complaints made by Count von -Bismarck in his despatch of the 3rd of February. That -Government has addressed itself to the French nation -in language marked by nobility and elevation of feeling, -setting forth the difficulties of the situation and the -efforts made to relieve the country from the last -consequences of an unfortunate campaign. At the same -time, it has cancelled the decree of the Delegation at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_550">[p. 550]</span> -Bordeaux. Let us hope, therefore, that the action of -M. Gambetta will receive no support in the country, and -that it will be possible to conduct the elections in perfect -harmony with the spirit and letter of the Convention of -the 28th of January.”</p> - -<p>I am called to the Minister again at 11 o’clock, -and instructed to defend Favre against the rabid attacks -of some French newspapers. The Chief says: “They -actually take him to task for having dined with me. -I had much trouble in getting him to do so. But it is -unfair to expect that, after working with me for eight -or ten hours, he should either starve as a staunch Republican, -or go out to a hotel where the people would -run after him and stare at him.”</p> - -<p>The Frenchmen are again here between 2 and 4 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> -They are six or seven in number, including Favre and, -if I rightly heard the name, General Leflô. The Chief’s -eldest son and Count Dönhoff join us at dinner.</p> - -<p>Subsequently I despatch a <i lang="fr">démenti</i> of a Berlin -telegram published by <cite>The Times</cite>, according to which -we propose to demand the surrender of twenty ironclads -and the colony of Pondicherry, together with a -war indemnity of ten milliards of francs. This I -describe as a gross invention which cannot possibly -have been credited in England, or have created any -anxiety there. I then hint at the probable source, -namely, the clumsy imagination of an unfriendly and -intriguing diplomatist. “That comes from Loftus,” -says the Chief, as he gives me these instructions. -“An ill-mannered fellow who was always seeking to -make mischief with us.”</p> - -<p><i>Tuesday, February 7th.</i>—From Bucarest despatches -it seems as if the reign of Prince Charles were really -coming to a speedy end. With the retention of Dalwigk<span class="pagenum" id="Page_551">[p. 551]</span> -at Darmstadt, the old confederacy of opponents of -German unity remains firmly entrenched, and the well-known -intrigues continue unhindered. A telegram from -Bordeaux brings the expected news. Gambetta yesterday -announced in a circular to the Prefects that his -Parisian colleagues having annulled his decree with -regard to the elections, he has informed them of his -resignation. A good sign. He can hardly have a strong -party behind him or he would scarcely have resigned.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, February 8th.</i>—The Chief is up at an -unusually early hour, and drives off at 9.45 to see the -King. Favre arrives shortly before 1 o’clock, accompanied -by a swarm of Frenchmen. There must be ten -or twelve of them. He confers with the Minister after -first lunching with us.</p> - -<p>In the evening the Chief and his son dined with the -Crown Prince, but first remained for a while with us. -He again observed with satisfaction that Favre had not -taken offence at his “spiteful letter,” but, on the contrary, -had thanked him for it. The Chief had repeated -to him verbally that it was his duty to share the dish -which he had helped to cook. To-day they had discussed -the way of raising the Paris war contribution; -the French wanted to pay the greater part of it in bank -notes, and we might lose in that way. “I do not know -the value of what they offer,” he said; “but in any case -it is to their advantage. They must, however, pay the -whole amount agreed upon. I will not remit a single -franc.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, February 9th.</i>—Speaking again of the -Paris contribution, the Chancellor observed at dinner: -“Stosch tells me he can dispose of fifty million francs -in bank notes to pay for provisions, &c., in France. -We must have proper security, however, for the remaining<span class="pagenum" id="Page_552">[p. 552]</span> -hundred and fifty millions.” Then alluding to -the foolish story about our wanting Pondicherry, he -continued: “I do not want any colonies at all. Their -only use is to provide sinecures. That is all England -at present gets out of her colonies, and Spain too. -And as for us Germans, colonies would be exactly like -the silks and sables of the Polish nobleman who had -no shirt to wear under them.”</p> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_553">[p. 553]</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER <abbr title="19">XIX</abbr></h2> - -<p class="subhdg">FROM GAMBETTA’S RESIGNATION TO THE CONCLUSION -OF THE PRELIMINARIES OF PEACE</p> -</div> - - -<p class="firstpara"><i>Friday, February 10th.</i> Fresh complaints respecting -the intrigues of Dalwigk, and especially the measures -for depriving the national constituencies in Hesse of -their representatives and securing the victory of the -Ultramontane and Democratic coalition. The Chief -desires me to see that an “immediate and energetic -campaign in the press” is organised against these and -other mischievous proceedings inspired by Beust’s -friends. He also wishes the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> to reprint the -long list of French officers who have broken their parole -and escaped from Germany.</p> - -<p>We were joined at dinner by the Duke of Ratibor -and a Herr von Kotze, the husband of the Chief’s -niece. Strousberg, a business friend of the Duke’s, was -mentioned, and the Chief observed that nearly all, or at -least very many of the members of the Provisional -Government were Jews: Simon, Cremieux, Magnin, also -Picard, whose Semitic origin he would hardly have -suspected, and “very probably Gambetta also, from his -features.” “For the same reason, I suspect even Favre,” -he added.</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, February 11th.</i>—In the morning I read<span class="pagenum" id="Page_554">[p. 554]</span> -the newspapers, and particularly certain debates in the -English Parliament at the end of last month. It really -looks as if our good friends across the Channel had a -suspicious leaning towards France, and as if they were -not at all disinclined to interfere once more—indeed, in -certain circumstances, an Anglo-French alliance would -appear quite possible. It is a question, however, whether -they might not fall between two stools. A very different -result might well ensue. From what one hears and reads -in the newspapers, the feeling in this country is almost -as hostile to the English as to ourselves, and in certain -circles more so. It may well happen that if England -adopts a threatening attitude towards us, we may surprise -our cousins in London with the very reverse of a -Franco-English alliance against Germany. We may -even be obliged to seriously consider the forcible restoration -of Napoleon, which we have not hitherto contemplated. -According to a telegram of the 2nd inst., -Bernstorff is to see that these ideas are cautiously -ventilated in the press.</p> - -<p>Count Henckel and Bleichröder dined with us. It -seems that in the negotiations with the French -financiers, Scheidtmann described them to their faces in -language more vigorous than flattering, talking of them -as pigs, dogs, rabble, &c., in ignorance of the fact that -some of them understood German. The Chief then -spoke of the insolence of the Parisian press, which -behaved as if the city were not in our power: “If that -goes on we must tell them that we will no longer stand -it. It must cease, or we shall answer their articles by a -few shells from the forts.” Henckel having alluded to -the unsatisfactory state of public opinion in Alsace, the -Chief said that, properly speaking, no elections ought to -have been allowed there at all, and he had not intended<span class="pagenum" id="Page_555">[p. 555]</span> -to allow them. But inadvertently the same instructions -were sent to the German officials there as elsewhere. -The melancholy situation of the Prince of Rumania was -then referred to, and from the Rumanian Radicals the -conversation turned to Rumanian stocks. Bleichröder -said that financiers always speculated on the ignorance -of the masses, and upon their blind cupidity. This was -confirmed by Henckel, who said: “I had a quantity of -Rumanian securities, but after I had made about 8 per -cent. I got rid of them, as I knew they could not yield -15 per cent, and that alone could have saved them.” -The Chief then related that the French were committing -all sorts of fraud in the revictualling of Paris. It was -not out of pride that they refused our contributions, but -merely because they could make no profit out of them. -Even members of the Government were involved, and -Magnin was understood to have recently made 700,000 -francs on the purchase of sheep. “We must let them -see that we know that,” said the Chief, glancing at me; -“it will be useful in the peace negotiations.” This was -done without delay.</p> - -<p>After dinner I wrote some paragraphs on the instructions -of the Chief. The first was to the effect that we -ought no longer to tolerate the insolence of the Parisian -journalists. However generous and patient we might -be, it was past endurance that the French press should -venture to deride and insult to his face the victor who -stood before the walls of the capital which he had absolutely -in his power. Moreover, such mendacity and -violence would prove an obstacle to the conclusion of -peace, by producing bitterness on both sides and delaying -the advent of a calmer spirit. This could not be -foreseen when the armistice Convention was concluded, -and in discussing any prolongation of the truce, effective<span class="pagenum" id="Page_556">[p. 556]</span> -means would have to be found for preventing further -provocation of the kind. Undoubtedly the best way -would be the occupation of the city itself by our troops. -We should thus relieve the French Government of a -source of grave anxiety, and avert the evil consequences -of inflammatory articles in the press, which they are -perhaps not in a position to repress.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, February 12th.</i>—It is announced in a telegram -from Cassel that Napoleon has issued a proclamation -to the French. The Minister handed it to me, -saying: “Please have this published in our local paper. -It is in order to lead them astray, so that they may not -know where they stand. But for God’s sake don’t date -it from Wilhelmshöhe, or they will think that we are -in communication with him. ‘<i lang="fr">Le bureau Wolff télégraphie.</i>’” -The Chief seems to be unwell. He does -not come to dinner.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, February 15th.</i>—I again draw attention -in the <cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite> to the disgraceful tone of the -Parisian press. I intimate that this agitation is delaying -the conclusion of peace, and that the most certain -way of putting an end to it would be the occupation of -Paris.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, February 22nd.</i>—During the last week -I have written a number of articles and paragraphs, and -despatched about a dozen telegrams.</p> - -<p>The Assembly at Bordeaux shows a proper appreciation -of the position. It has declined to support Gambetta, -and has elected Thiers as chief of the Executive -and spokesman on behalf of France in the negotiations -for peace which began here yesterday. At dinner -yesterday, at which we were joined by Henckel, the -Chief remarked, with reference to these negotiations, -“If they were to give us another milliard we might<span class="pagenum" id="Page_557">[p. 557]</span> -perhaps leave them Metz, and build a fortress a few -miles further back, in the neighbourhood of Falkenberg -or towards Saarbrücken—there must be some suitable -position there. I do not want so many Frenchmen in -our house. It is the same with Belfort, which is -entirely French. But the soldiers will not hear of -giving up Metz, and perhaps they are right.”</p> - -<p>Generals von Kameke and von Treskow dined with -us to-day. The Chief spoke about his second meeting -with Thiers to-day: “On my making that demand” -(what the demand was escaped me), “he jumped up, -although he is otherwise quite capable of controlling -himself, and said, ‘<span lang="fr">Mais c’est une indignité!</span>’ I did -not allow that to put me out, however, but began to -speak to him in German. He listened for a while, and -evidently did not know what to make of it. He then -said in a querulous voice, ‘<span lang="fr">Mais, Monsieur le Comte, -vows savez bien que je ne sais point l’allemand</span>.’ I -replied, speaking in French again, ‘When you spoke -just now of <i lang="fr">indignité</i> I found that I did not know -enough French, and so preferred to use German, in -which I understand what I say and hear.’ He immediately -caught my meaning, and wrote down as a concession -the demand which he had previously resented -as an <i lang="fr">indignité</i>.”</p> - -<p>The Chief continued: “Yesterday he spoke of Europe, -which would intervene if we did not moderate our -demands. But I replied, ‘If you speak to me of -Europe I shall speak to you of Napoleon.’ He would -not believe that they had anything to fear from him. -I proved the contrary to him, however. He should -remember the plebiscite and the peasantry, together -with the officers and soldiers. It was only under the -Emperor that the Guards could again have the position -which they formerly occupied; and with a little cleverness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_558">[p. 558]</span> -it could not be difficult for Napoleon to win over -100,000 soldiers among the prisoners in Germany. We -should then only have to arm them and let them cross -the frontier, and France would be his once more. If -they would concede good conditions of peace we might -even put up with one of the Orleans, though we knew -that that would mean another war within two or three -years. If not, we should have to interfere, which we -had avoided doing up to the present, and they would -have to take Napoleon back again. That, after all, -must have produced a certain effect upon him, as, to-day, -just as he was going to talk about Europe again, he -suddenly broke off and said, ‘Excuse me.’ For the rest, -I like him very well. He is at least highly intelligent, -has good manners, and is an excellent story-teller. Besides, -I often pity him, for he is in an extremely awkward -position. But all that can’t help him in the least.”</p> - -<p>With regard to the war indemnity, the Chief said: -“Thiers insisted that fifteen hundred million francs was -the maximum, as it was incredible how much the war -had cost them. And in addition to that everything -supplied to them was of bad quality. If a soldier only -slipped and fell down, his trousers went to pieces, the -cloth was so wretched. It was the same with the shoes -which had pasteboard soles, and also with the rifles, -particularly those from America.” I replied: “But just -imagine, you are suddenly pounced upon by a man who -wants to thrash you, and after defending yourself and -getting the better of him, you demand compensation—what -would you say if he asked you to bear in mind -how much he had had to pay for the stick with which -he had intended to beat you, and how worthless the -stick had proved to be? However there is a very wide -margin between fifteen hundred and six thousand -millions.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_559">[p. 559]</span></p> - -<p>The conversation then lost itself—I can no longer -remember how—in the depths of the Polish forests and -marshes, turning for a while on the large solitary farm -houses in those districts and upon colonisation in the -“backwoods of the east.” The Chief said: “Formerly -when so many things were going wrong—even in private -affairs—I often thought that if the worst came to the -worst I would take my last thousand thalers and buy -one of those farms out there and set up as a farmer. -But things turned out differently.”</p> - -<p>Later on, diplomatic reports were again discussed, -and the Chief, who seems in general to have a poor -opinion of them said: “For the most part, they are just -paper smeared with ink. The worst of it is that they are -so lengthy. In Bernstorff’s case, for instance, when he -sends a ream of paper filled with stale newspaper -extracts—why, one gets accustomed to it! But when -some one else writes at interminable length, and as a -rule there is nothing in it, one becomes exasperated. -As for using them some day as material for history, -nothing of any value will be found in them. I believe -the archives are open to the public at the end of thirty -years—but it might be done much sooner. Even the -despatches which do contain information are scarcely -intelligible to those who do not know the people and -their relations to each other. In thirty years time who -will know what sort of a man the writer himself was, -how he looked at things, and how his individuality -affected the manner in which he presented them? And -who has really an intimate knowledge of the people -mentioned in his reports? One must know what -Gortschakoff, or Gladstone, or Granville had in his own -mind when making the statements reported in the -despatch. It is easier to find out something from the -newspapers, of which indeed governments also make use,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_560">[p. 560]</span> -and in which they frequently say much more clearly -what they want. But that also requires a knowledge of -the circumstances. The most important points, however, -are always dealt with in private letters and confidential -communications, also verbal ones, and these are not -included in the archives.</p> - -<p>“The Emperor of Russia, for instance, is on the whole -very friendly to us—from tradition, for family reasons, -and so on—and also the Grand Duchesse Hélène, who -influences him and watches him on our behalf. The -Empress, on the other hand, is not our friend. But that -is only to be ascertained through confidential channels -and not officially.”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, February 23rd.</i>—We retain Metz, but -not Belfort. It has been practically decided that a -portion of our army shall enter Paris.</p> - -<p>And I write the following intimation for the -<cite lang="fr">Moniteur</cite>:—</p> - -<p>“The arrogance with which the Parisian press insults -and abuses the victorious German army that stands -outside the gates of the capital has been frequently stigmatised -by us as it deserves. We have likewise pointed -out that the occupation of Paris by our troops would be -the most effectual means of putting an end to this sort -of insolence. At the present moment these lies and -calumnies and provocations know no bounds. For instance, -the <cite lang="fr">Figaro</cite> of the 21st of February, in a feuilleton -entitled ‘<span lang="fr">Les Prussiens en France</span>,’ and signed -Alfred d’Aunay, charges German officers and the -Germans in general with the most disgraceful conduct -such as theft and pillage. We learn that these proceedings, -which we forbear to characterise, have entirely -frustrated the efforts made by the Parisian negotiators -to prevent the German army entering into Paris. We -are positively assured that the entry of the German<span class="pagenum" id="Page_561">[p. 561]</span> -forces into the French capital will take place immediately -after the expiration of the armistice.”</p> - -<p><i>Friday, February 24th.</i>—Thiers and Favre were here -from 1 to 5.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> After they left, the Duc de Mouchy -and the Comte de Gobineau were announced. The object -of their visit was to complain of the oppressive action of -the German Prefect at Beauvais, who is apparently rather -harsh, or at least not very conciliatory or indulgent. The -Chief came to dinner in plain clothes for the first time during -the war. Is this a sign that peace has been concluded? -He again complained that when he went to see the -King, the Grand Dukes, “with their feminine curiosity, -pestered him with questions.” With regard to the -deputation from Beauvais, Hatzfeldt said that Mouchy -and Gobineau were both sensible men and Conservatives, -and that our Prefect, Schwarzkoppen, bullied -them and the other notables of the town and neighbourhood -in an unpardonable way. Amongst other things, -two days before the expiration of the term on which a -contribution of two millions was to be paid, they brought -him a million and a half and said that the balance would -follow shortly, whereupon he told them brutally that he -was there for the purpose of ruining them and meant -to do so, and he threatened to have them locked up in -order to “coerce” them, which was not in the least -necessary. The Chief was very angry and called -Schwarzkoppen a “blockhead.”</p> - -<p><i>Saturday, February 25th.</i>—Unpleasant news has -again been received from Bavaria. Werther (who, it -is true, is described by Bucher as unreliable and a -visionary) writes that Count Holnstein regards the -condition of King Lewis with very great anxiety. -Prince Adalbert, who combines “the Wittelsbach -haughtiness with Jesuitry,” is inciting him against us. -He asserts that he signed the treaties under pressure.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_562">[p. 562]</span> -Before every Court dinner and even before every audience -he drinks large quantities of the strongest wines, -and then says the most extraordinary things to every -one without distinction of persons. He wants to abdicate -and leave the crown to his brother Otto, who, -however, has no wish for it, and he is always inquiring -about deadly poisons, &c. The Ultramontanes are -aware of all this, and their candidate for the Reichstag, -Prince Luitpold, is also their candidate for the throne, -and they mean to get him chosen in spite of Prince -Otto’s claims.</p> - -<p><i>Wednesday, March 1st.</i>—In the morning I crossed -the bridge of boats at Suresnes to the Bois de Boulogne -where, from the half-ruined stand on the racecourse, I -saw the Emperor review the troops before they marched -into Paris.</p> - -<p>We were joined at dinner by Mittnacht, and the -Würtemberg Minister, von Wächter, who was formerly -attached to the Embassy in Paris, and while there did -his utmost against Prussia. The Chief said he had -ridden in to Paris, and was recognised by the populace, -but there was no demonstration against him. He rode -up to one man who looked particularly vicious, and -asked him for a light, which he willingly gave.</p> - -<p>The Chancellor afterwards took occasion once more -to speak his mind out on the obtrusiveness of certain -princely personages. “They are like flies,” he said, -“there is no getting rid of them. But Weimar is the -worst of the lot. He said to me to-day, ‘Please tell me -where did you disappear to so quickly yesterday? I -should have been glad to put some further questions to -you.’ I replied, ‘That was exactly it, your Royal -Highness. I had business to do, and could not enter -into a lengthy conversation.’ He fancies that the whole -world has been created merely for his sake, for his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_563">[p. 563]</span> -amusement, the improvement of his education, and the -satisfaction of his curiosity, which is insatiable, and he -has absolutely no tact.” Somebody observed that as a -rule when he talks he does not think of what he says, -but rather repeats phrases that he has learnt by rote. -Mittnacht told another story about this august personage. -“Some one was introduced to him: ‘Ah, very -pleased indeed, I have heard so much to your credit. -Let me see, what was it I heard?’”</p> - -<p><i>Thursday, March 2nd.</i>—Favre arrived this morning -at 7.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and wished to be shown in to the Chief. -Wollmann declined to wake him, however, at which the -Parisian Excellency was very indignant. Favre wanted -to inform the Chancellor of the news he had received -during the night that the National Assembly at -Bordeaux had ratified the preliminaries of peace, and -thereupon to ask that Paris and the forts on the left bank -of the Seine should be evacuated. This request was -submitted in a letter which he left behind him.</p> - -<p><i>Sunday, March 5th.</i>—We leave to-morrow, first -going to Lagny and thence to Metz. The Chief is -present at dinner. The conversation first turned upon -our landlady, Madame Jesse, who put in an appearance -either to-day or yesterday and made a variety of complaints -to the Minister as to the damage we are supposed -to have done to her property. He replied that was the -way in war, particularly when people deserted their -homes. Besides she had reasons to be thankful that she -had got off so easily. The little table on which the -Treaty of Peace was signed is to be taken with us to -Germany. Taglioni, who is to remain behind a few days -with the King, is instructed to have it replaced by an -exactly similar piece of furniture. In speaking of the -preparations for our departure the Chief says: “Kühnel -thinks we ought not to travel by night, as Lorraine will<span class="pagenum" id="Page_564">[p. 564]</span> -be haunted, and they might lay something on the rails.” -I replied, “Then I will travel incognito as the Duke of -Coburg. Nobody owes him a grudge. He is regarded -as perfectly innocent—and with justice.”</p> - -<p><i>Monday, March 6th.</i>—A lovely morning. Thrushes -and finches warble the signal for our departure. At -1 o’clock the carriages get under way, and with light -hearts we drive off towards the gate that we entered five -months ago, and passed Villa Coublay, Villeneuve Saint -Georges, Charenton, and La Fasanerie to Lagny, where -we take up our quarters for the night.</p> - -<p>We leave here next day by a special train for Metz, -where we arrive late at night. We put up at an hotel, -while the Chief stays with Count Henckel at the -Prefecture. Next morning we stroll through the town, -visit the cathedral, and survey the neighbourhood from -the bastions of the fortress. Shortly before 11 o’clock -we are again in the train, and travel by Saarbrücken and -Kreuznach to Mainz, and thence to Frankfurt.</p> - -<p>The Chief has an enthusiastic reception everywhere -along the line and particularly at Saarbrücken and -Mainz. Frankfurt is the only exception. We arrive -there at a late hour, and start again in the night. At -7.30 on the following morning we reach Berlin, after -exactly seven months’ absence. All things considered, -everything has been done during those seven months -which it was possible to do.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOOTNOTES">FOOTNOTES</h2> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> Strictly speaking, <em>almost</em> complete, as some passages must still be -omitted for the present.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> The despatch was understood to contain a sentence to the effect that -Rome should take care not to challenge Europe, and that whatever the -Church might say, the Austrian Courts of Justice would not allow themselves -to be influenced into according any indulgence towards those who -broke the laws or instigated others to do so.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> At that time it had only been accepted by the Committee of the -House of Commons,—without any important amendments however, and -its adoption on a third reading was assured. It is true, objections were -raised. Gladstone very characteristically observed that the law now only -empowered the Administration to proceed against incitements to treasonable -<em>action</em>; it was, however, necessary to provide for the punishment of -attempts by the press to create a “treasonable state of mind” amongst -the people. The sole concession made by the Government was that the -threatened measures should not be put into execution until warning -(once only) had been given.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> The loyal Hanoverian circles did not tell the truth in this matter. -Stoffel’s reports were, on the whole, good, and he himself was a man of -respectable character.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> Not quite correct, according to a subsequent statement of the -Minister’s and Count Bill’s own account.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">[6]</a> Louis de Condé was treacherously murdered on the 12th of March, -1569, after the engagement at Jarnac, just as he had delivered up his -sword to an officer of the royal army, being shot by one Montesquieu, a -captain of the Guards.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">[7]</a> These particulars are worked up into the <a href="#napoleon">preceding chapter</a>.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">[8]</a> In presence of later events he can hardly have expressed himself in -this way.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">[9]</a> The Würtemberger was Von Reinhard, and the Darmstadter Von -Munch-Bellinghausen, both determined opponents of Prussia.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="label">[10]</a> Compare this passage with the speech delivered by Bismarck in the -United Diet on the 15th of June, 1847. On that occasion he said, “I am -of opinion that the conception of the Christian state is as old as the so-called -Holy Roman Empire, as old as all the European States, and that it -is exactly the ground in which those States have struck deep roots; and -further, that each State that wishes to secure its own permanence, or even -if it merely desires to prove its right to existence, must act upon religious -principles. The words ‘By the grace of God,’ which Christian rulers add -to their names, are for me no mere empty sound. On the contrary, -I recognise in them the confession that Princes desire to wield the sceptre -with which God has invested them in accordance with His Will.” Certain -remarks made by the Chancellor in his speech of the 9th of October, 1878, -during the debate on the Anti-Socialist Bill, should also be remembered -in this connection. He said, <i lang="la">inter alia</i>: “If I had come to believe as -these men (the Social Democrats) do—yes, I live a full and busy life and -am in opulent circumstances—but that would not be sufficient to make me -wish to live another day if I had not, in the words of the poet, ‘<span lang="de">an Gott -und bessere Zukunft Glauben</span>’ (faith in God and a better future).”</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="label">[11]</a> It was a report from Mohl, originally intended, for his Government -at Carlsruhe, which was communicated to the Chief, under whose instructions -extracts therefrom were utilised in the press.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="label">[12]</a> At that time Secretary of State in the Foreign Office. He was not -a Catholic.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="label">[13]</a> Bucher afterwards told me that the Chancellor was affected both by -the superstition respecting the number thirteen and that relating to Friday. -Other diplomats, as, for instance, the French, seem to entertain -the same objection both to the number and the day. The following -anecdote, which I was assured was perfectly genuine, may serve as an -example. After the negotiations respecting the duty payable by ships -passing through the Sound had been completed, it was arranged that the -treaty containing the terms agreed upon should be signed at Copenhagen -on the 13th of March, 1587. It turned out that the day thus chosen was -not only the thirteenth of the month, but was also a Friday, and that -there were thirteen Plenipotentiaries to sign the document. “A threefold -misfortune!” exclaimed the French Ambassador Dotezac. To his -delight, however, the addition of the signatures was postponed for some -days owing to difficulties occasioned by the difference in the rate of -exchange of Danish and Prussian thalers. The number of representatives -still caused him so much anxiety, however, that it made him ill, and it -was only on the decease of the Hanoverian Plenipotentiary a few weeks -later that the French Ambassador and the other signatories of the treaty -felt that they were no longer in danger of sudden death.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="label">[14]</a> Walker, the English Kutusow of Count Bismarck-Bohlen, <abbr title="Her Britannic Majesty">H. B. M.</abbr>’s -Military Plenipotentiary at headquarters, was not held in much estimation -by the Chancellor and his <i lang="fr">entourage</i>.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="label">[15]</a> These suspicions, though fully justified by appearances, were subsequently -shown to be for the greater part unfounded, except that there -was inadequate provision for the requirements of the wounded. I -reproduce the episode as evidence of the Minister’s usual humane feeling -and love of justice.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="label">[16]</a> A reference to the popular Thuringian ballad of “The Landgrave and -the Smith.”</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17" class="label">[17]</a> His greeting to those who brought him the news of his election as -Emperor while he was netting birds in the forest.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18" class="label">[18]</a> Thun, Rechberg and Prokesch held in succession the position of -Austrian Minister to the Bundestag.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19" class="label">[19]</a> The communication referred to is a letter by Thomas Carlyle published -in <cite>The Times</cite> of November 18, in which it occupied two and a half -columns. The passages quoted by <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Busch are here reproduced from -the original:—</p> - -<p>“The question for the Germans, in this crisis, is not one of -‘magnanimity,’ of ‘heroic pity and forgiveness to a fallen foe,’ but of -solid prudence and practical consideration what the fallen foe will, in all -likelihood, do when once on his feet again. Written on her memory, in -a distinctly instructive manner, Germany has an experience of 400 years -on this point; of which on the English memory, if it ever was recorded -there, there is now little or no trace visible.... No nation ever had so -bad a neighbour as Germany has had in France for the last 400 years; -bad in all manner of ways; insolent, rapacious, insatiable, unappeasable, -continually aggressive.... Germany, I do clearly believe, would be a -foolish nation not to think of raising up some secure boundary fence -between herself and such a neighbour now that she has the chance. -There is no law of nature that I know of, no Heavens Act of Parliament -whereby France, alone of terrestrial beings, shall not restore any portion -of her plundered goods when the owners they were wrenched from have -an opportunity upon them.... The French complain dreadfully of -threatened ‘loss of honour’; and lamentable bystanders plead earnestly, -‘Don’t dishonour France; leave poor France’s honour bright.’ But will -it save the <em>honour</em> of France to refuse paying for the glass she has -voluntarily broken in her neighbour’s windows. The attack upon the -windows was her dishonour. Signally disgraceful to any nation was her -late assault on Germany; equally signal has been the ignominy of its -execution on the part of France. The honour of France can be saved -only by the deep repentance of France, and by the serious determination -never to do so again—to do the reverse of so for ever henceforth.... -For the present, I must say, France looks more and more delirious, -miserable, blamable, pitiable and even contemptible. She refuses to see -the facts that are lying palpably before her face, and the penalties she -has brought upon herself. A France scattered into anarchic ruin, without -recognisable head; <em>head</em>, or chief, indistinguishable from <em>feet</em>, or -rabble; Ministers flying up in balloons ballasted with nothing else but -outrageous public lies, proclamations of victories that were creatures of -the fancy; a Government subsisting altogether on mendacity, willing -that horrid bloodshed should continue and increase rather than that they, -beautiful Republican creatures, should cease to have the guidance of it; -I know not when and where there was seen a nation so covering itself -with <em>dis</em>honour.... The quantity of conscious mendacity that France, -official and other, has perpetrated latterly, especially since July last, is -something wonderful and fearful. And, alas! perhaps even that is small -compared to the self-delusion and <em>un</em>conscious mendacity long prevalent -among the French.... To me at times the mournfullest symptom in -France is the figure its ‘men of genius,’ its highest literary speakers, -who should be prophets and seers to it, make at present, and, indeed, for -a generation back have been making. It is evidently their belief that -new celestial wisdom is radiating out of France upon all the other overshadowed -nations; that France is the new Mount Zion of the universe; -and that all this sad, sordid, semi-delirious, and, in good part, <em>infernal</em> -stuff which French literature has been preaching to us for the last fifty -years is a veritable new Gospel out of Heaven, pregnant with blessedness -for all the sons of men.... I believe Bismarck (<i>sic</i>) will get his Alsace -and what he wants of Lorraine, and likewise that it will do him, and us, -and all the world, and even France itself by and by, a great deal of good.... -(Bismarck) in fact seems to me to be striving with strong faculty, -by patient, grand and successful steps, towards an object beneficial to -Germans and to all other men. That noble, patient, deep, and solid -Germany should be at length welded into a nation and become Queen of -the Continent, instead of vapouring, vain-glorious, gesticulating, -quarrelsome, -restless and over-sensitive France, seems to me the hopefullest -public fact that has occurred in my time.”—<span class="smcap">The Translator.</span></p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20" class="label">[20]</a> The King.</p> - - -<p><a id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21" class="label">[21]</a> The Crown Prince.</p> - -</div> - - -<div class="section"> -<p class="center sp2">END OF <abbr title="Volume">VOL.</abbr> <abbr title="1">I.</abbr></p> - -<p class="center sp2">RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNGAY.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="tnbox"> -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes</h2> -</div> - -<p>The following changes have been made to the text as printed. In -cases of doubt, recourse has been had to the original German work -(<i>Tagebuchblätter</i>).</p> - - -<p>1. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>2. Errors in use of quote marks and other punctuation have been -corrected.</p> - -<p>3. In cases of inconsistent spelling of German and French names, the -spelling used in the original language has been preferred. Examples -include changing <i>Frankfort</i> to <i>Frankfurt</i>, <i>Mayence</i> to <i>Mainz</i>, <i>Rheims</i> -to <i>Reims</i>, <i>Delbruck</i> to <i>Delbrück</i>. However, where the English text is -consistent in spelling, that spelling has been retained (<i>Cologne</i>, -<i>Munich</i>, <i>Jahrbuecher</i>).</p> - -<p>4. Where a word is used repeatedly in the same way, -hyphenation has been made consistent, preferring the form most -often used in the printed work, or failing that the more usual form in -general use at the time of publication.</p> - -<p>5. Page 113: <i>the result would not been</i> has been changed to <i><a href="#TN1">the -result would not have been</a></i>.</p> - -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BISMARCK: SOME SECRET PAGES OF HIS HISTORY (VOL. 1 OF 3) ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. 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