Chapter VI (2)

_Sagan, June 28, 1848._--I have returned to my domestic hearth. Though I have hitherto had no great reason to complain of my own corner of the world, I none the less feel that the earth is mined and is trembling beneath my feet. The district that I have just left seems to me to be terribly unsafe. At Paris blood is flowing.[159] For some days our knowledge of events there has been confined to telegraphic news from Brussels and is very uncertain. I merely know that my children are not in the town.

[159] When seven thousand workmen had been dismissed from the
national workshops, a further outbreak caused much bloodshed in
Paris for four days. On that occasion the Archbishop, Mgr. Affre,
was killed upon one of the barricades where he was attempting to
pacify the people.

_Sagan, July 6, 1848._--The struggle in Paris has kept me in a state of great alarm; fortunately none of my intimate connections have suffered anything beyond terror and panic. At present the country districts are becoming dangerous, and so my daughter Pauline has returned to the city with her son.

Here we are very little better off than in France, and when I consider the many centres of communistic doctrine in this part of Europe, I cannot close my eyes to the dangers that threaten us; the less so, as I am far from thinking that they can be crushed in the manner employed by Prince Windisch-Graetz at Prague and General Cavaignac at Paris. I propose to betake myself to Teplitz in a few days and am only awaiting an assurance that that part of Bohemia has been pacified.

_Teplitz, July 18, 1848._--My journey here from Sagan passed off without incident, but poverty and restlessness are everywhere prevalent. The little kingdom of Saxony is, however, less disturbed than Prussia or than the Saxon Duchies of Thuringen, where the feeling is pre-eminently republican. At Dresden the Ministry is so Radical that revolutionaries could hardly wish for anything more. There is also an idea that the Saxon duchies would be united under the single and by no means monarchical sceptre of the good King of Saxony, who retains hardly a shadow of his royal power. Hitherto he has been saved by the fact that his Minister of the Interior wears no hat or gloves.[160] He is simply a rustic but is said to be honourable enough not to betray his master. Teplitz is almost empty and no one thinks of travelling. Apart from the Clarys and the Ficquelmonts, there is no one here except a few obscure paralytics. Herr von Ficquelmont regards the prospects of the Austrian empire in a very gloomy light and seems to disbelieve any possibility that the Archduke John may save it or that he may improve the future of Germany. His dealings with the Vienna students are either hypocritical or are prompted by unworthy or speculative ambition. At Frankfort he will soon have to struggle against the separatist tendencies, which are continually becoming more obvious in Prussia, not merely in high places where they might well come to nothing, but to an even greater extent among the masses, who have been wounded in their interests and their pride.

[160] Herr von Pfördten.

_Teplitz, July 22, 1844._--We hear that there is still some disturbance at Prague, though it is sternly repressed by the iron hand of Prince Windisch-Graetz. Vienna remains in a complete state of anarchy. Herr von Ficquelmont told me yesterday that the population of Berlin was more tumultuous and more vicious than that of Vienna and that the governmental and administrative machinery was in far better order at Berlin than at Vienna. On the whole, they are two centres of disaffection.

_Eisenach, August 8, 1848._--The Duchesse d'Orléans whom I have come to see is much changed and complains that she grows steadily weaker. However, she remains calm and reasonable and is not so disinclined as she was at first to open connections with the older branch of the family. However, the possibility of forming any such project seems remote. There is a feeling that dignity must be maintained, while at the same time no stone should be left unturned to improve the chances of the future. She is entirely without prejudice; her insight is clear and her judgment seems to be more direct and to have been fortified by the great lessons of recent events. She was quite open and kind towards me; remembrances of the Duc d'Orléans give us a real interest in one another, and she expressed this fact very graciously by telling me that for her I stood outside all family questions. She called her sons and said to them, "Kiss your father's most faithful friend."

_Berlin, August 13, 1848._--Every evening there is some small excitement in the streets which is fomented by the deplorable proceedings of the assembly; moreover, the financial Minister, Herr Hanseman, is proposing laws destined to conclude our ruin. Claims are being laid by the former provinces which may degenerate into revolts and lead to civil war. The Pan-Germanic party and the Prussian separatists, between whom the country is divided, are already confronting one another in a hostile temper which makes the conflict imminent. No one can tell what the future may bring forth.

_Sagan, September 9, 1848._--The ministerial crisis at Berlin seems to make a catastrophe imminent.[161] Civil war or foreign war may be expected and also a breach between the two constitutional assemblies of Frankfort and Berlin. In short, numberless eventualities present themselves and meanwhile private life becomes more and more impossible.

[161] The discussions concerning the proposal of a deputy, Herr
Stein, with reference to the army and to the control which the
Ministry should exert upon the political opinions of officers,
were concluded in the Chamber against the desires of the Cabinet.
The Auerswald Ministry therefore resigned on September 11; on the
22nd of the same month the King appointed a new Cabinet of which
General Pfuel was President.

_Sagan, September 16, 1848._--There are no Ministers at Frankfort[162] and none at Berlin. There is a total want of energy at Sans Souci and unfortunately the troops are showing symptoms of disaffection. Use was not made of them at the proper time, and agitators have been allowed to seize the opportunity for shaking their fidelity. The absence of all legal authority has again aroused the arbitrary greed of the rural populations, while the Chambers have failed to satisfy their anxiety for a definite settlement with the overlords: thus burning and pillage have been begun once more in Upper Silesia. Rothschild of Vienna who had a fine estate there has just seen it utterly ruined. The fact is that another bad outbreak is in progress and I am more anxious now than I have ever been, seeing that the loyalty of the troops has become doubtful.

[162] It will be remembered that the populations of Schleswig and
Holstein, who wished to be united with Germany, had revolted
against Denmark, and that the Prussians had come to their help.
After several bloody conflicts an armistice was concluded between
Denmark and Prussia at Malmæ on August 26, but the National
Assembly at Frankfort refused to assent to this armistice on the
ground that Prussia did not ask its authorisation. The council of
Ministers and all the Ministers of the Empire had thereupon
resigned.

_Sagan, October 1, 1848._--Things here are going from bad to worse. The other night some evil-minded persons exploded bombs near the castle. Our precautions have been taken; my army of defence has been organised and if we are to perish it will not be without a struggle. I shall not run away, for I have no personal fear, as I am totally indifferent on my own account; and then people are always overawed by courage and determination.

_Sagan, October 5, 1848._--The château of Prince Hatzfeldt has been attacked by peasants;[163] four of his farms have been burnt, and he has been obliged to flee. Here everything is comparatively quiet so far, but the morrow belongs to no one.

[163] The Château of Trachenberg, not far from Breslau.

_Sagan, October 9, 1848._--The post and the Vienna newspapers have failed to reach us since the day before yesterday. Current rumour ascribes this absence of direct news to sanguinary causes which are only too probable at the present time. Every day brings some fresh horrors.[164] Last week we heard of the massacre of Count Lamberg at Buda;[165] the hanging of poor Eugène Zichy[166] who was so happy and so great a favourite at Paris ten years ago; he was hung by these barbarians in the island where robbers are executed. Yesterday we heard of the murder of the Comte de la Tour, Minister of War at Vienna, and of General Brédy.[167] The Black and Yellow party is fighting in the streets against the Hungarian party. If the Anarchist party triumphs at Vienna[168] it will be all up with Berlin and Breslau where people are living upon a powder-mine.

[164] In the morning of October 6 a number of the population of
Vienna opposed the departure of the troops which were marching
upon Hungary to reinforce Baron Jellachich, and a bloodthirsty
struggle broke out. The residence of the Minister of War was
captured by assault, and the Minister, the Comte de la Tour, was
stabbed, hung to a lamp-post, and riddled with bullets. The
troops retired, were driven back at every point and forced to
evacuate the town. The Emperor and the Imperial Family, who had
returned to Vienna in the month of August, were obliged to retire
once more and went towards Olmütz. There the emperor abdicated on
December 2 in favour of his nephew, Francis Joseph I.

[165] General Count Lamberg had been appointed Commander-in-Chief
of the Hungarian troops on September 25: the National Assembly at
Pesth refused to recognise this nomination and declared all
guilty of high treason who should obey him, and on his arrival at
Pesth put him to death on the bridge which unites Buda and Pesth.

[166] When Hungary was in a state of insurrection, the insurgents
seized Count Eugène Zichy, accused him of communicating with the
Austrian Army and of distributing copies of the emperor's
proclamation. He was tried before a court presided over by
Georgei and was condemned to death and shot in the island of
Czepel and not hung, as the first rumour related.

[167] General Brédy was killed at Vienna on October 6, 1848,
during the struggle between the people and the National Guard in
the suburb of Leopoldstadt, a few hours before the insurgents
seized the residence of the Minister of War.

[168] By the Black and Yellow party is meant the Imperial party,
the members of which wore these colours.

_Sagan, October 25, 1848._--Everything here is in suspense and everything is being settled at Vienna. Hitherto it seems that the loyal army will dictate laws, but we dare not trust to these gleams of hope. In Austria, at any rate, an honourable struggle is in progress, and if failure should come honour will not be lost. As much cannot, unfortunately, be said of Berlin, and even if the side of right should triumph at Vienna will the victory be final? I doubt it and I fear we shall be living for a long time on a volcano.

_Sagan, November 4, 1848._--A revolutionary outburst has just taken place at Liegnitz, comparatively close to me. It was necessary to use military force to quell it. At Berlin there is a riot almost every day; audacity and weakness daily increase. Yesterday the Ministry was at last changed: this might indicate a desire to revive energy; I fear that it is too late. The Assembly has been besieged, the Deputies and the Diplomatic Body imprisoned and threatened with hanging; the National Guard has been betrayed by its leader, while Sans Souci has been completely paralysed in the face of these events; and yet people ask if there is still any room for hope.[169] The successful measures at Vienna have not succeeded in inspiring Potsdam with any energy, and have greatly exasperated the anarchists who wish to deliver some striking blow to recover their power and to form a centre at Berlin for spreading their influence throughout Germany. The part played by M. Arago, the Minister of the French Republic, during recent days at Berlin, has been extremely ambiguous,[170] and any self-respecting Government would have sent him his passports, and lodged an official complaint at Paris. My wishes for Vienna have at length been realised. Windisch-Graetz has shown infinite patience and kindness, and only when the capitulation of the 30th was treacherously violated did he rage as he was bound to do, and as the infamy of the native authorities in Vienna deserved. We are still without details, but the main facts are official and we must regard them as providential. God grant that this may be the starting-point of a new era. Meanwhile anarchy, disorder, the want of repressive measures, and poverty are ruining the provinces. Orators are preaching murder and pillage unpunished to their popular meetings, and the results of these incendiary harangues may soon be expected. Really the state of things is frightful.

[169] On October 16 a further and bloodthirsty outbreak took
place at Berlin, ending in a collision between the National Guard
and the workmen. The result was to revive the agitation which had
prevailed in this town with short intermissions since the month
of March.

[170] M. Arago, the French Minister, showed himself to the crowd
which was cheering him before his residence. He uttered a few
words in French and held out his hand to the people who were
nearest to him.

_Sagan, November 19, 1848._--I think it would be advisable for Austria to add to such determined warriors as Jellachich, Radetzky, and Windisch-Graetz a younger and stronger politician than Wessenberg. It is said that such a man would be found in Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg; he has good friends, and has often been the object of great admiration. I saw him pretty frequently at Naples two years ago, and he showed me much kindness. He was a man of distinguished manner, clever, dignified, and cool, and his opinions and his speech were well weighed; but I do not know him well enough to say whether he will be equal to the heavy task which seems likely to fall upon him. Stadion, who is to share it with him, has been a friend of his youth, and their unanimity may produce fortunate results. I see nothing of the kind in prospect for Prussia, where warriors and writers, men of eloquence and action, appear to be utterly wanting in the present crisis. Every attempt now made is marked by a certain tactlessness which is far from inspiring me with confidence.[171] They are sheltering themselves behind Frankfort, and looking there for refuge, support, and protection. It is undignified, and makes no impression upon the enemy, while I think that this bulwark will prove to be futile. We must hope that the army is loyal, but we cannot help recognising that it is without enthusiasm, while its ardour is allowed to cool and disappear. The soldiers who are bivouacking in the streets of Berlin are suffering from the bad weather and are greatly depressed, so persons say who write to me and who are busy distributing soup and beer to support their strength and encourage their loyalty.

[171] A new Ministry, of which Count Brandenburg was President
and Herr von Manteuffel was Minister of the Interior, had been
appointed at Berlin on November 8. Its very first administrative
act ended in a defeat: an ordinance of the King countersigned by
the Count of Brandenburg transferred the National Assembly to the
town of Brandenburg; the Assembly decided against this
transference by a vast majority, and as the Government could not
continue amid this increasing anarchy, it resolved upon vigorous
action. On November 10 a considerable number of troops were
drafted into the capital and occupied the entrance to the
Assembly room. The Assembly protested against this violence, and
an ordinance of the King then declared the civil guard disbanded;
another ordinance issued on the 12th proclaimed Berlin to be in a
state of siege. General Wrangel commanded the military forces and
every measure was taken to avoid a collision.

_Sagan, November 26, 1848._--The last week has been a very difficult time; since Berlin was proclaimed to be in a state of siege all disaffected elements have fallen back upon Silesia; my workmen have been fired upon, and the red flag has been carried about. In fact, the situation looked menacing; but now that thirty thousand troops are sweeping the province we can breathe again, and if I can believe my last letters from Berlin, we are to enter upon a new era. On this subject I admit my incredulity, and I fear that it will not be dispelled for a long time; but the fact remains that disturbances have ceased for the moment, and for so much we ought to be grateful, for the feverish state of tension was becoming unbearable.

The death of Madame de Montjoye has filled the cup of misfortune for poor Queen Marie Amélie, whose only and most intimate confidential friend she was. As a result of drinking poisoned water at Claremont,[172] I hear that the King's teeth have become black. Relations between the King and his children are not invariably satisfactory, nor are the children agreed among themselves. Providence is subjecting these _émigrés_ to every kind of hardship; possibly it is an expiation for the vote of the father and the usurpation of the son.

[172] In November 1848 the whole of the Royal Family had suffered
from poisoning in consequence of the leaden pipes through which
the water was carried.

_Sagan, December 1, 1848._--To-day the newspapers announce the programme of the new Austrian Cabinet,[173] which was very well received at Kremsier and has produced a rise in Austrian stocks. May God give us a strong and clever Cabinet, at any rate in that quarter. The Cabinet which ought to govern in Prussia, and which appeared ready to assume the iron glove, seems to me to show nothing but weakness, while the glove is distinctly rusty. All good Catholics will be greatly moved by the fate of Pius IX. Notwithstanding the fact that with greater zeal than prudence he ran to liberal extremes, he remains the head of our church, the priest of God and a kind man, and his danger should stir our hearts to pity and to fear.[174] I hear from Berlin that Herr von Gagern has failed in his proposed object, and that the King was stronger than was thought, for he has thrust aside the show of Imperialism which Gagern had offered him on the condition that for this occasion only he would submit to the laws of the Frankfort Government.[175]

[173] The Austrian Diet had been sitting since November 15 at
Kremsier in Moravia, in the beautiful castle of the Archbishops
of Olmütz. The new Ministry was composed as follows: Prince Felix
of Schwarzenberg, President of the Council and Minister of
Foreign Affairs; Stadion, Minister of the Interior; Krauss,
Financial Minister; Bach, Legal Minister; Gordon, Minister of
War; Bruck, Minister of Commerce; Thinnfeld, Minister of
Agriculture; Kulmer, unattached.

[174] The Pope had given his subjects a constitution on March 14,
and after changing his Ministry several times he had at length
decided on December 15 to appoint as his Prime Minister,
Pellegrino Rossi, formerly French Ambassador to His Holiness and
a personal friend of M. Guizot. Rossi undertook to establish a
regular parliamentary government in the Papal States, relying
upon the middle classes and intervening between the parties in
opposition. He was not given the time to carry out his proposals:
on November 15, as he was going to a Cabinet Council, he was
stabbed in the throat by a militiaman and fell dead. This deed
was a signal for a republican rising. The Pope confined himself
to appointing a new Minister who was out of sympathy with the
people, upon which the mob and the troops made their way to the
Quirinal and ordered the Pope to change his Ministers. Pius IX.,
who was supported by the diplomatic body, declined to accede, and
popular exasperation then reached its height. A desperate
struggle broke out between the people and the guards, and the
bullets even reached the interior of the palace. Eventually the
Pope yielded under protest and consented to accept as his
Ministers Sterbini, Galletti, Mamiani, and the Abbé Rosmini. But
on November 25, dressed as an ordinary Abbé, he left Rome and
sought the protection of the King of Naples at Gaeta, from which
town he sent a protest to the Romans against recent events.

[175] Herr von Gagern, who had undertaken to draw up a
constitution for the Empire at Frankfort and to settle the
central power upon a permanent basis, had come to Berlin to
examine the situation and to learn whether the King of Prussia
would be inclined to place himself at the head of the German
Empire in the event of a rupture between Austria and Germany. The
King absolutely declined this proposal, which was afterwards
brought before him once more with more official authority in
March 1849.

_Sagan, December 6, 1848._--Rumour here very generally asserts that the worst of the storm has passed. I am by no means sure of the fact; electoral excitement will soon begin when the attempt is made to work the constitution that has been granted, and the results seem very uncertain. Anything, in truth, is better than this state of decay and confusion in which we are here perishing, but though the danger may assume new forms, it will not pass so quickly. The country is certainly becoming somewhat enlightened and growing weary of the state of things which reduces every one to utter misery; some better instincts are asserting themselves. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the King's marriage there was a favourable display of feeling, but too many elements of disaffection are still powerful and the Government cannot make itself respected. In Southern Germany, especially in Bavaria, people still seem to be in love with the proposal for sharing the power among three, particularly since Austria has concentrated her members to form one great monarchy. The old Prince William of Prussia who was nominated as a possible member of the triumvirate, has fallen into a state of mental weakness which would make him incapable of undertaking this task. Moreover, his son, Prince Waldemar, is dying at Münster of a spinal disease; it is a sad business, for he is a distinguished Prince and his death will be a final blow to his poor father. I doubt if the central power will last very long, as the King of Prussia mercifully persists in his refusal to accept the burden. It is said that the Princess of Prussia would have liked to see Herr von Gagern at the head of a new Prussian Cabinet. I do not think that this haughty character would have been willing to take so uncertain a position or to confront a Chamber so little amenable to parliamentary eloquence. In any case the King has rejected all insinuations, direct or indirect. It would indeed have been both foolish and utterly ungrateful on his part to dismiss the only Ministry which has had the courage and the capacity to raise the prestige of the Crown in some small degree and to turn events in the direction of conservatism.

Italy is in a pitiable condition. M. de Broglie will doubtless be deeply grieved at the death of M. Rossi, as it was he who brought M. Rossi to France, introduced him to politics, raised him to the peerage, and finally advanced him to the Embassy at Rome. I saw a great deal of him in the salon of Madame de Broglie, and afterwards at Rome; he seemed to me to be an astute and unpretentious character, less noble but cleverer than Capo d'Istria.[176] Their assassination was due to the same cause; both attempted to play the part of Richelieu without due preparation.

[176] Like Pellegrino Rossi, Capo d'Istria suffered a violent
death. He was accused by the Greeks of acting merely as the tool
of Russia, and of using arbitrary methods to secure governmental
power. He was assassinated in 1831 by the brothers George and
Constantine Mavromichali, who wished to take vengeance upon him
for the unjust imprisonment of their father and brother.

_Sagan, December 30, 1848._--The calm amid which Napoleon has assumed the chief power in France would tend to show that a desire for order and peace is rising in the country. Rumours are abroad of the abdication of the King of Sardinia and of a new and warlike Sardinian Ministry.[177] I hope that Radetzky will bring the rest of Italy to reason as he has done in Lombardy. Windisch-Graetz is before Raab, and it is hoped that he will have no great difficulty in entering the town. Great cold delays his march, and he is also hampered by the necessity of reorganising the civil government in the districts which he occupies.[178] Jellachich has been carried away by his impetuosity and captured temporarily by the Hungarians.[179] He was rescued by his soldiers. Windisch-Graetz has bitterly reproached him for his blind rashness which might have compromised the fate of the army, and the vital question of the Government. The Archduchess Sophie gave her son, the young Emperor, as a Christmas present a frame containing the portraits of Radetzky, Windisch-Graetz, and Jellachich. It is well to remind Sovereigns by outward signs of the duty of gratitude, which, as a rule, they find somewhat burdensome. And so the disastrous year of 1848 comes to an end! Heaven grant that 1849 may bring some improvement in our lives!

[177] King Charles Albert did not abdicate until after the battle
of Novara on March 23, 1849.

[178] About December 15 Prince Windisch-Graetz at the head of the
Austrian troops drove the Hungarians out of one position after
another, until they retired behind the bastions of Raab, under
the command of Georgei. As the great cold prevented their
reinforcements from coming up, the Hungarians were obliged to
abandon this position, which the Austrians captured without
striking a blow, on December 27.

[179] On September 29, 1848, near Veneleze, twelve miles away
from Ofen, Jellachich was utterly defeated by General Moga. His
army took flight and Jellachich was taken prisoner. He succeeded
in escaping, however, and made his way through the forests to
Mor, Risber, and at length to Raab.