Chapter XXVII: THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (continued)

The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty--Austria favours a
Settlement--Bismarck's Terms rejected--His high-handed
Proceedings--Convention of Gastein--Bismarck at Biarritz--The
Italian Treaty--Question of Disarmament--Fresh Austrian
Proposals--Bismarck advocates Federal Reform--La Marmora's
Perplexity--He abides by Prussia--Efforts of the Neutral
Powers--Failure of the projected Congress--Rupture of the Gastein
Convention--The War begins--The rival Strengths--Distribution
of the Prussian Armies--Collapse of the Resistance in North
Germany--Occupation of Dresden--The Advance of the Prussian
Armies--Battle of Königgratz--Cession of Venetia--Italian
Reverses--The South German Campaign--Occupation of Frankfort--The
Defence of Vienna--French Mediation--The Preliminaries of
Nikolsburg--Treaty of Prague--Conditions awarded to Bavaria and the
Southern States--The Secret Treaties--Their Disclosure--Humiliation
of the French Emperor--His pretended Indifference 418