Before the campaign began, two events took place which we must record.  The first was the publication in the Times of the text of the treaty with France regarding Belgium.  We need not add anything further to what we have said regarding it; published at this moment it had a great effect on English public opinion.  The other arose out of the opposition which the exiled King of Hanover had continued to maintain.  He had used the very large sums of money which he possessed to keep together a Hanoverian Legion, recruited from former officers and soldiers of the Hanoverian army.  He had hoped that war would break out before this and would be accompanied by a rising in Hanover.  His means had now come to an end, and the unfortunate men were living in Paris almost without support.  They were now exposed to a terrible alternative.  They could not return to Germany; they did not wish to take part in a war on the French side.  Their only hope was emigration to America.  Bismarck heard of their position; he offered to pardon them all and to pay to them from the Prussian funds the full pension which they would have received had they continued to serve in the Hanoverian army.  It was a timely act of generosity, and it had the effect that the last element of hostility in Germany was stilled and the whole nation could unite as one man in this foreign war.

NOTE.—­In this chapter, besides the ordinary authorities, I have depended largely on the memoirs of the King of Roumania.  Bismarck, in his own memoirs, states that the writer was not accurately informed; but even if there are some errors in detail, the remarkable statements contained in this work must command belief until they are fully contradicted and disproved.  There has, I believe, been no attempt to do this.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE WAR WITH FRANCE AND FOUNDATION OF THE EMPIRE.

1870-1871.

On July 31, 1870, Bismarck left Berlin with the King for the seat of war, for, as in 1866, he was to accompany the army in the field.  For the next few months indeed Germany was to be governed from the soil of France, and it was necessary for the Minister to be constantly with the King.  Bismarck never forgot that he was a soldier; he was more proud of his general’s uniform than of his civil rank, and, though not a combatant, it was his pride and pleasure that he should share something of the hardships and dangers of war.  He was as a matter of fact never so well as during the campaign:  the early hours, the moderate and at times meagre food, the long hours in the saddle and the open air, restored the nerves and health which had been injured by the annoyances of office, late hours, and prolonged sedentary work.  He was accompanied by part of the staff of the Foreign Office, and many of the distinguished strangers who followed the army were often guests at his table; he especially shewed his old friendliness for Americans:  General Sheridan and many others of his countrymen found a hearty welcome from the Chancellor.