together; what should be the relations to them of the two Powers?  This gave rise to a minute controversy, which could not be settled, and no doubt Bismarck did not wish that it should be settled.  One of his conditions, however, was that, before the Estates were summoned, Augustenburg should be compelled to leave Holstein.  Of course the Prince refused, for he well knew that, if he once went away, he would never be allowed to return.  The Duke of Oldenburg, who was always ready to come forward when Bismarck wished it, himself demanded the expulsion of the Prince.  The King of Prussia wrote a severe letter to Augustenburg, intimating his displeasure at his conduct and warning him to leave the country.  The Prince answered, as he always did to the King, expressing his gratitude and his constant loyalty to Prussia, but refused, and his refusal was published in the papers.  It was still impossible to remove him except by force, but before he ventured on that Bismarck had to make secure the position of Prussia.

At the beginning of July events began to move towards a crisis.  Bismarck had appointed a commission of Prussian lawyers to report on the legal claim of the different candidates for the Ducal throne; their report was now published.  They came to the conclusion, as we might anticipate that they would, that Augustenburg had absolutely no claim, and that legally the full authority was possessed by the two Powers who had the de facto government.  Their opinion did not carry much weight even in Prussia itself, but they seem to have succeeded in convincing the King.  Hitherto he had always been haunted by the fear lest, in dispossessing Augustenburg, he would be keeping a German Prince from the throne which was his right, and that to him was a very serious consideration.  Now his conscience was set at rest.  From this time the last support which Augustenburg had in Prussia was taken from him, for the Crown Prince, who always remained faithful to him, was almost without influence.  Bismarck was henceforward able to move more rapidly.  On the 5th of July the Prince’s birthday was celebrated throughout the Duchy with great enthusiasm; this gave bitter offence to the King; shortly afterwards Bismarck left Berlin and joined the King, who was taking his annual cure at Carlsbad, and for July 28th a Council of State was summoned to meet at Regensburg.  Probably this is the only instance of a King coming to so important a decision outside his own territories.  The Council was attended not only by the Ministers, but also by some of the generals and by Goltz, who was summoned from Paris for the purpose.  It was determined to send an ultimatum to Austria; the chief demand was that Austria should withdraw all support from Augustenburg, and agree immediately to eject him from the Duchies.  If Austria refused to agree, Prussia would do so herself; he was to be seized, put on board a ship, and carried off to East Prussia.  To shew that they were in earnest, a beginning was