very sensibly and decisively, and I did not at all get the impression that he now wants to change everything.”

Prince Hohenlohe was summoned to Potsdam in October, 1894, by a telegram from the Emperor.  All the telegram said was that “important interests of the Empire” were concerned.  Hohenlohe was only aware of the dismissal of Caprivi from a newspaper he read in Frankfort on his way to Potsdam.  The Emperor met him at the station (Wildpark) and conveyed him to the New Palace, where the Prince agreed to accept the Chancellorship “at the Emperor’s earnest request.”  Princess Hohenlohe was decidedly against her husband, who was now seventy-five, accepting the post, and even ventured to telegraph to the Empress to prevent it.

The Prince has a note on his intercourse with his imperial master.  He is writing to his son, Prince Alexander:—­

     “BERLIN, 17 October, 1896.

“It is a curious thing—­my relations to his Majesty.  I come now and then to the conclusion, owing to his small inconsideratenesses, that he intentionally avoids me and that things can’t continue so.  Then again I talk with him and see that I am mistaken.  Yesterday I had occasion to report to him, and he poured out his heart to me and took occasion in the friendliest way to ask my advice.  And thus my distrust is dissipated.”

Hunting with the Emperor:—­

     “15 December, 1896.

“Yesterday I obeyed the royal invitation to hunt at Springe.  I had to leave Berlin as early as 7 a.m. to catch the royal train at Potsdam.  From Springe railway station we passed immediately into the hunting district.  Only sows were shot.  I brought down six.  Then we drove to the Schloss, rested for a few hours and then dined.  The Emperor was in very good humour and talked incessantly; in addition the Uhlan band and the usually noisy conversation.”

When presenting his resignation to the Emperor at Hamburg in October, 1900, the Prince, who had evidently been for some time aware that his term of office was drawing to a close, describes his conversation with the Emperor:—­

“At noon, as I came to the Emperor, he received me in a very friendly way.  We first settled about summoning the Reichstag, and then his Majesty said, ’I have received a very distressing letter’—­an allusion to the Chancellor’s official letter of resignation, which he had placed in the Emperor’s hands through Tschirschky, Foreign Minister.  ’As I then,’ continued Hohenlohe, ’explained the necessity of my resignation on the ground of my health and age the Emperor, apparently quite satisfied, agreed, so that I could see he had already expected my request and consequently that it was high time I should make it.  We talked further over the question of my successor, and I was agreeably surprised when he forthwith mentioned Buelow, who certainly at the moment is the best man available.  His Majesty then said he would telegraph to Lucanus (Chief of the Civil Cabinet) to bring Buelow to Homburg so that we might consult about details.  I breakfasted with their Majesties and went calmly home.’”

Writing to his daughter next day Prince Hohenlohe, in words that do equal credit to himself and the imperial family, says: