up and claimed acquaintance, having known him in France in ’70, the year of the war.  They rode a short time together, and the next day he received an invitation from the officers of a smart Uhlan regiment to dine at their mess “in remembrance of the kind hospitality shown to some of their officers who had been quartered at his place in France during the war.”  As the hospitality was decidedly forced, and the presence of the German officers not very agreeable to the family, the invitation was not very happy.  It was well meant, but was one of those curious instances of German want of tact which one notices so much if one lives much with Germans.  The hours of the various entertainments were funny.  At a big dinner at Prince Bismarck’s the guests were invited at six, and at eight-thirty every one had gone.  W. sat next to Countess Marie, the daughter of the house, found her simple and inclined to talk, speaking both French and English well.  Immediately after dinner the men all smoked everywhere, in the drawing-room, on the terrace, some taking a turn in the park with Bismarck.  W. found Princess Bismarck not very femme du monde; she was preoccupied first with her dinner, then with her husband, for fear he should eat too much, or take cold going out of the warm dining-room into the evening air.  There were no ladies at the dinner except the family. (The German lady doesn’t seem to occupy the same place in society as the French and English woman does.  In Paris the wives of ambassadors and ministers are always invited to all official banquets.)

Amusements of all kinds were provided for the plenipotentiaries.  Early in July W. writes of a “Land-parthie”—­the whole Congress (wives too this time) invited to Potsdam for the day.  He was rather dreading a long day—­excursions were not much in his line.  However, this one seems to have been successful.  He writes:  “Our excursion went off better than could be expected.  The party consisted of the plenipotentiaries and a certain number of court officers and generals.  We started by rail, stopped at a station called Wannsee, and embarked on board a small steamer, the Princess Royal receiving the guests as they arrived on board.  We then started for a trip on the lakes, but before long there came a violent squall which obliged the sailors to take down the awnings in double-quick time, and drove every one down into the cabins.  It lasted about half an hour, after which it cleared up and every one reappeared on deck.  In course of time we landed near Babelsberg, where carriages were waiting.  I was told off to go in the first with the Princess Royal, Countess Karolyi (wife of the Austrian ambassador, a beautiful young woman), and Andrassy.  We went over the Chateau of Babelsberg, which is a pretty Gothic country-seat, not a palace, and belongs to the present Emperor.  After that we had a longish drive, through different parks and villages, and finally arrived at Sans Souci, where we dined.  After dinner we strolled through the