Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE LIFE OF BISMARCK, PRIVATE AND POLITICAL.

“Mit Gott für König und Vaterland.”

THE LIFE OF BISMARCK, PRIVATE AND POLITICAL;

With Descriptive Notices of His Ancestry.

by

JOHN GEORGE LOUIS HESEKIEL,

Author of “Faust and Don Juan,” etc.

Translated and Edited, With an Introduction, Explanatory Notes, and Appendices, by Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie, F.S.A., F.A.S.L.

With Upward of One Hundred Illustrations by Diez, Grimm, Pietsch, and Others.

New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, Franklin Square. 1870.

CONTENTS

EDITOR’S PREFACE. Page xv

Book the First.

THE BISMARCKS OF OLDEN TIME.

CHAPTER I.

NAME AND ORIGIN.

Bismarck on the Biese.—The Bismarck Louse.—Derivation of the
Name Bismarck.—Wendic Origin Untenable.—The Bismarcks in
Priegnitz and Ruppin.—Riedel’s Erroneous Theory.—The Bismarcks
of Stendal.—Members of City Guilds.—Claus von Bismarck of
Stendal.—Rise of the Family into the Highest Rank in the
Fourteenth Century. 31

CHAPTER II.

CASTELLANS AT BURGSTALL CASTLE.

[1270-1550.]

Rulo von Bismarck, 1309-1338.—Excommunicated.—Claus von
Bismarck.—His Policy.—Created Castellan of Burgstall,
1345.—Castellans.—Reconciliation with Stendal, 1350.—Councillor
to the Margrave, 1353.—Dietrich Kogelwiet, 1361.—His White
Hood.—Claus in his Service, while Archbishop of Magdeburg.—The
Emperor Charles IV.—The Independence of Brandenburg
threatened.—Chamberlain to the Margrave, 1368.—Subjection
of the Marks to Bohemia, 1373.—Claus retires into Private
Life.—Death about 1377.—Claus II., 1403.—Claus III. and
Henning.—Friedrich I. appoints Henning a Judge.—Ludolf.—His
Sons.—Pantaleon.—Henning III. _obiit circâ_ 1528.—Claus
Electoral Ranger, 1512.—Ludolf von Bismarck.—Electoral Sheriff
of Boetzow, 1513.—His Descendants. 36

CHAPTER III.

THE PERMUTATION.

[1550-1563.]

Changes.—The Electoral Prince John George and
Burgstall.—Forest-rights.—The Exchange of Burgstall for
Crevese.—Schönhausen and Fischbeck.—The Permutation completed,
1563. 50

CHAPTER IV.

THE BISMARCKS OF SCHÖNHAUSEN.

[1563-1800.]

Further Genealogy of the Bismarcks.—Captain Ludolf von
Bismarck.—Ludolf August von Bismarck.—His remarkable
Career.—Dies in the Russian Service, 1750.—Frederick William
von Bismarck.—Created Count by the King of Würtemberg.—Charles
Alexander von Bismarck, 1727.—His Memorial to his Wife.—His
Descendants.—Charles William Ferdinand, Father of Count Otto
von Bismarck. 57

CHAPTER V.

Armorial Bearings. 68

CHAPTER VI.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF BISMARCK’S BIRTHPLACE.

Genthin.—The Plotho Family.—Jerichow.—Fischbeck.—The
Kaiserburg.—The Emperor Charles IV.—The Elector
Joachim Nestor.—Frederick I.—General Fransecky “to the
Front.”—Tangermünde.—Town-hall.—Count Bismarck.—His Uniform,
and the South German Deputy.—Departure for Schönhausen. 77

CHAPTER VII.

SCHÖNHAUSEN.

The Kattenwinkel.—Wust.—Lieutenant Von Katte.—Schönhausen.—Its
History.—The Church.—Bishop Siegobodo.—Bismarck’s
Mansion.—Interior.—Bismarck’s Mother.—Bismarck’s
Birth-Chamber.—The Library.—Bismarck’s Youthful
Studies.—Bismarck’s Maternal Grandmother.—The Countess with the
Dowry.—Ghost Stories.—Anecdote of a Ghost.—The Cellar Door.—The
French at Schönhausen.—The Templars.—The Park.—The Wounded
Hercules.—The Pavilion.—Two Graves.—The Orangery.—The Knight’s
Demesne.—Departure from Schönhausen. 81

Book the Second.

YOUTH.

CHAPTER I.

SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DAYS.

Bismarck’s Parents.—Brothers and Sisters.—Bismarck
Born.—Kniephof, Jarchelin, and Külz.—The Plamann
Institute.—The Frederick William Institute.—Residence in
Berlin.—Bismarck’s Father and Mother.—Letter of Count Bismarck
to his Sister.—Confirmation.—Dr. Bonnell.—Severity of the
Plamanns.—Holiday Time.—Colonel August Frederick von Bismarck
and the Wooden Donkey at Ihna Bridge.—School-life with Dr.
Bonnell.—The Cholera of 1831.—The Youthful Character and
Appearance of Bismarck.—Early Friends.—Proverbs.—“Far from
Sufficient!” quoth Bismarck. 101

CHAPTER II.

UNIVERSITY AND MILITARY LIFE.

[1832-1844.]

Göttingen.—The Danish Dog and the
Professor.—Duels.—Berlin.—Appointed Examiner.—Anecdotes
of his Legal Life.—Bismarck and his Boots.—Meeting
with Prince, now King, William.—Helene von Kessel.—Aix
la Chapelle.—Greifswald.—Undertaking the Pomeranian
Estates.—Kniephof.—“Mad Bismarck.”—His Studies.—Marriage of
his Sister.—Letters to her.—Norderney.—Saves his Servant
Hildebrand’s Life.—“The Golden Dog.”—A Dinner Party at the
Blanckenburgs.—Von Blanckenburg.—Major, now General, Von
Roon.—Dr. Beutner. 123

CHAPTER III.

BETROTHAL AND MARRIAGE.

[1847.]

Falls in Love.—Johanna von Putkammer.—Marriage.—Meets King
Frederick William IV.—Birth of his First Child.—Schönhausen and
Kniephof with a New Mistress. 148

Book the Third.

LEARNING THE BUSINESS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

“UT SCIAT REGNARE.”

Bismarck’s Policy.—Its Gradual Growth and Political
Character.—Contrast with Lucchesini.—Bismarck’s Open
Honesty.—Vassal and Liege.—Liberalism a Danger.—Democracy a
Danger.—The Relative Positions of Prussia and Austria in the
Federation.—Gerlach’s Ideal Conservatism. 157

CHAPTER II.

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE THREE ESTATES.

[1847.]

The February Constitution.—Merseberg.—First Appearance of
Bismarck in the White Saloon.—Von Saucken.—Bismarck’s First
Speech.—Conservatives and Liberals.—The First of June.—Jewish
Emancipation.—Illusions Destroyed. 165

CHAPTER III.

THE DAYS OF MARCH.

[1848.]

Rest at Home.—Contemplation.—The Revolution in Paris,
February, 1848.—Progress of the Revolutionary Spirit.—The
March Days of Berlin.—The Citizen Guard.—Opening of the
Second Session of the United Diet, 2d April, 1848.—Prince
Solms-Hohen-Solms-Lich.—Fr. Foerster.—“Eagle’s Wings and
Bodelswings.”—Prince Felix Lichnowsky.—The Debate on the
Address.—Speech of Bismarck.—Revolution at the Portal of the
White Saloon.—_Vaticinium Lehninense._—The Kreuzzeitung Letter
of Bismarck on Organization of Labor.—Bismarck at Stolpe on the
Baltic.—The Winter of Discontent.—Manteuffel. 178

CHAPTER IV.

CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP.

[1849-1851.]

The Second Chamber.—The Sword and the Throne.—Acceptance of
the Frankfurt Project.—The New Electoral Law.—Bismarck’s
Speeches.—The King and the Stag.—Birth of Herbert von
Bismarck.—“What does this Broken Glass Cost?”—The Kreuzzeitung
Letters.—The Prussian Nobility.—“I am Proud to be a Prussian
Junker!”—Close of the Session. 191

Book the Fourth.

ON THE VOYAGE OF LIFE.

CHAPTER I.

ON THE VOYAGE OF LIFE.

[1851-1859.]

Ambassador.—Interview with the King.—Lieut.-General von
Rochow.—Anecdotes.—Frankfurt.—Reception of the Prince of
Prussia.—Society at Frankfurt.—The King’s Birthday.—Position of
Prussia.—Correspondence. 217

CHAPTER II.

BISMARCK ON THE NEVA.

[1859-1862.]

Ambassador to St. Petersburg.—Illness.—Journey.—Hunting.—The
Coronation of William I. 280

CHAPTER III.

BISMARCK ON THE SEINE.

[1862.]

The Premiership ahead.—Ambassador to Paris.—Unveiling
of the Brandenburg Statue.—Uncertainty.—Delivers his
Credentials to Napoleon III.—Description of the Embassy
House at Paris, and of Prussia House, London.—Journey to
the South of France.—Trouville.—Bordeaux.—Bayonne.—San
Sebastian.—Biarritz.—Luchon.—Toulouse.—End of his Journeyman
Days. 310

Book the Fifth.

MINISTER-PRESIDENT AND COUNT.

CHAPTER I.

THE CRISIS.

The Crisis of 1862.—Bismarck Premier.—The Party of
Progress.—The Liberals.—The Conservatives.—Bismarck’s
Determination.—“_Voilà mon Médecin!_”—Anecdotes.—Attitude
of the Government.—Refusal of the Budget.—Prudence of the
Minister-President.—Official Presentation of Letters of
Recall at Saint Cloud. 331

CHAPTER II.

THE MAN AT THE HELM.

Negotiations with Austria.—Circular of the 24th of January,
1863.—Conversation with Count Karolyi.—Prusso-Russian
Convention.—The Party of Progress.—Congress of
Princes.—Conditions of Prussia.—War in the Distance.—The
Danish Campaign.—Treaty of Gastein, 14th August,
1865.—Bismarck elevated to the Rank of Count.—Bismarck and
Pauline Lucca.—Correspondence with his Family.—Hunting at
Schönbrunn.—Biarritz. 343

CHAPTER III.

THE GREAT YEAR, 1866.

Disputes with Austria.—The Central States.—Mobilization
of the Army.—Bismarck shot at by Kohn-Blind, 7th May,
1866.—Excitement in Berlin.—War Imminent.—Declaration.—The
King sets out on the Campaign.—Sichrow.—Jitschen.—Battle
of Sadowa, 3d July, 1866.—Bismarck with His Majesty on
the Battle-field.—Negotiations of Nicolsburg.—Treaty
of Prague.—Illness of Bismarck.—Consolidation of
Prussia.—Triumphant Entry of the Army into Berlin.—Peace. 382

CHAPTER IV.

MAJOR GENERAL AND CHANCELLOR OF THE FEDERATION.

Conversation with M. de Vilbort.—Appearance as Chancellor.—M.
Bamberger’s Views.—Bismarck as an Orator.—The Luxemburg
Question.—Fall from his Horse.—Citizenship of Bülow.—Visit to
Holstein.—Speech to a Torchlight Procession. 414

CHAPTER V.

A BALL AT BISMARCK’S.

Interior of Bismarck’s House at Berlin.—Arrival of Guests.—The
King.—The Queen.—The Royal Princes.—The Generals.—Committee of
Story-tellers in the Refreshment-room.—Supper.—The Ball.—Home. 431

CHAPTER VI.

BISMARCK’S HOUSE AT BERLIN.

Bismarck’s House in ordinary Costume.—Its History.—“Sultan
Uilem and Grand Vizier Bi-Smarck.”—“Bismarck, _grand homme_,
Bakschisch!”—The Cuckoo Clock.—Daily Habits.—Sunday at
Bismarck’s. 441

CHAPTER VII.

VARZIN.

Purchase of Varzin.—The Verandah.—The Park.—The name of
Bismarck famous.—House Inscriptions.—Popularity of Bismarck.—In
an Ambush of School-girls.—Conclusion. 448

APPENDIX A.

THE LEGEND OF GERTRUDE AND BISMARCKIAS. 459

APPENDIX B.

THE PRUSSIAN CONSTITUTION OF 1847. 461

ORDINANCE OF THE 3D OF FEBRUARY, 1847. 463

ORDINANCE ON PERIODICAL ASSEMBLING. 468

THE KING’S SPEECH—APRIL, 1847. 472