The suppressed diary of the late Emperor Frederick.

  • Frederick, III, German Emperor, 1831-1888.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The suppressed diary of the late Emperor Frederick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    12/18 (page 10)
    To-day Kaiser and Reich have been irrevocably re-established, and now the interregnum of sixty-five years, the terrible time without an Emperor, is over. This proud title is a guarantee in itself ; we owe this mainly to the Grand Duke of Baden, who has been incessantly active in the matter. Roggenbach will be sent to Berlin by Bismarck. I am writing an open letter to Simson. Dec. 6.—Odo Russell says that Bismarck favours the alliance with England. The King very much perplexed that Delbriick has read the letter of the King of Bavaria to the Reichstag. Stilfried sends curious designs for Imperial arms, the Prussian, with the Austrian House-crown : he does not want the German Royal crown, which is just the one I demand as attribute of the German Imperial rank. Dec. 7.—Princess Frederick of the Netherlands has died : she was the most gifted of the three sisters. The Grand Duke of Weimar tells me that he, as brother-in-law of the King, had ordered his Ambassador to propose in the Bundesrath that Emperor and Empire should be admitted into the Constitution. This was Bismarck’s wish. The King gives a grand dinner in honour of the Russian St. George’s festival. Stoscli on the brilliant victory near Bazoches; he has a good position with the Grand Duke, who is said to be talented. Dec. 9.—Learn about Delbnick’s introductory speech on the Imperial question in the Reichstag, which is excessively weak, dull, and dry ; it was pitiable, just as if he had pulled the Imperial crown out of his pocket wrapped up in an old newspaper ; it is impossible to put any energy into these people. It is asked whether this confederacy is to be the result of all the sacrifices, an act which onlysuits those men for whom and by whom it has been made. I know very well what endless trouble and anxiety my present sins of omission will one day cause me. Meanwhile I have ordered Commander von Voigts- Rheetz quietly to keep the Salle des Glaces free. The Grand Duke of Baden says that the apparently empty Imperial title of to-day will develop its full meaning soon enough. The Isolation of England. Dec. 10.—Russell complains of the isolation of England, which is ever becoming more notice- able. The King is excited about Delbriick’s action. The King of Saxony had expressed his surprise. He is afraid of the Reichstag deputation, because it looks as if the Imperial question were initiated by the Reichstag ; refuses to receive the deputation until he has the assent of all the States through the medium of the King of Bavaria. At tea there is so little conversation that the half of us go regularly to sleep. Schneider does not read aloud, and we look again and again through the old copper- plates which have been saved from St. Cloud.— Dec. 12.—Pfalzburg capitulates, which it has never done before. The deputation is to arrive on the 16th. A telegram has been sent to the King of Bavaria ask- ing him to send on the letter which has been in his possession for some time past. Dec. 14.—Anniversary of Prince Albert’s death. Remember how he constantly said, “ We must give up the idea of playing a decisive part without the co-operation ot Germany.” Dec. 15.—Moltke expects Longwy and Mezteres to capitulate, because the commandant declares that he will only be buried with the last stone. His atti- tude and method of expressing himself are quite invaluable at such moments. Dec. 16.—The King will hear nothing about receiving the deputies, but is beginning to be more pliable in the matter. It is a bad thing that Bismarck is just now suffering from his feet ; the Grand Duke of Baden acts like a good genius. Deputation from the Reichstag. Dec. 17.—Hear from the Court Marshal of Prince Charles that to-morrow his Majesty will give a dinner to the Reichstag deputies. Bismarck says the King wants to receive them beforehand. Long conversation with Simson (now President of the Supreme Court at Leipzig), who is correct and logical. Count Perponcher said to Adalbert, “ However, we shall not utilize the Imperial dignity for ordinary occasions, but only at grand Court festivities or ceremonies;” to which Adalbert replied, “If the King were to make you a Prince would you only then wear the title on exceptional occasions?” Boyen asked what would our King do if the Prussian Diet were to refuse to allow him to accept the Imperial Crown ? “Du gleichst dem Geist den du begreiffst.” Sunday, Dec. 18—Deeply moved by the reception of the deputies, dignified and good. Observed from Rogge’s sermon that after all stress is laid on it. Princes and generals asked me to be allowed to be present. I told the King directly after service, who was greatly surprised, but said, at last, that if anyone really wanted to be there he should not offer any opposition. So they all put in an appearance, although the King expressed his surprise at it ; only Luitpold failed ; and at the last moment the Royal adjutants were sent for. His Majesty took his stand in the principal saloon of the building, the Princes of the Blood to the right, the reigning Princes to the left. Simson’s masterly speech drew tears from me ; in fact, there was not a dry eye present. The Address was then read. The King’s reply followed, with some stoppages, for he can no longer read easily without spectacles; besides, now and again he was obliged to pause from emotion. Then followed the presentation of the deputies ; during the entire ceremony firing from Mont Valerien ; out- side everybody was ciowding. The King was happy when all was over, seemed easy and satisfied. The future position of the Royal family is still doubtful. “ Imperial Highness ” is contrary to my fancy altogether. Dec. 19.—The deputies are satisfied ; their appear- ance acts pleasantly. I dine with Bismarck ; the officials were silent : the candles were stuck in bottle- necks. Stosch returned; praises Wittich and Treskow highly. Dec. 24.—Christmas Eve.—Great astonishment of the French at our purchases. Russell obtains an officer’s sword sash in the lottery. Dec. 25.—After all, it really is an irony on the message of salvation when each side prays to God for its own cause as the righteous one, and at every success tries to prove that its opponent has been left in the lurch by Heaven. Dec. 27.—Bourbaki against Belfort; Blumenthal is happy about this nonsense. A Letter of the King of the Belgians. Dec. 28.—Letter of the King of the Belgians, full of sympathy for Emperor and Empire, and great expectations regarding them ; he sees in them the re-establishment of order and of the consciousness of justice in Europe, and calls the tasks set for them “ truly glorious.” He is very anxious to fulfil his