Tuesday.—­Hans is just breakfasting, and eating up, from sheer stinginess, a quarter pound of butter that he bought three days ago, because it begins to get old.  Now he screams that my tea is there, too.  I close for today, as I have something to do afterwards.  My love to FatherMotherAnnaAdelheidMarie and all the rest.  God’s blessing be with you and keep you well and merry.

Your most faithful v.B.

Berlin, September 11, ’49. (Postmarked September 10.)

I wrote yesterday, my Nannie, but as it costs me nothing, not even for paper, for this is the Chamber’s, I do want to improve a wearisome moment, during which I must listen to the reading of a confused report on normal prices, to send you another little greeting; but again without the ribbon, for I am going to buy that later on.  This morning I attended the cavalry manoeuvres, on a very pleasant horse of Fritz’s; rode sharply, swallowed much dust, but, nevertheless, had a good time; it is really pretty, these brilliant, rapidly moving masses interspersed with the clanking of iron and the bugle signals.  The Queen, my old flame, greeted me so cordially.  Having driven past without noticing me, she rose and turned backward over the bar of the carriage, to nod to me thrice; that lady appreciates a Prussian heart.  Tomorrow I shall take a look at the grand parade, in which the infantry also participates.  I believe I have written you that the King and Leopold Gerlach visited the Emperor of Austria at Teplitz, where there was also a Russian plenipotentiary.  The proletariats of the Chamber are now gradually coming to see that on that occasion something may have been concocted which will cast mildew on their German hot-house flowers, and the fact that his Majesty has conversed with the ruler of all the Croatians frightens them somewhat. Qui vivra verra.  These Frankfort cabbage-heads are incorrigible; they and their phrases are like the old liars who in the end honestly believe their own stories; and the impression produced on our Chamber by such ridiculous things as they say, without any regard for the matter in hand, or for common-sense, will be sure at last to convince people generally that peasants and provincials are not fit to make laws and conduct European politics.  Now I must listen.  Farewell, my much-beloved heart.  Love to my daughter and your parents.

Your most faithful v.B.

Berlin, Friday.

(Postmarked September 21, ’49.)

I am well, my darling Nan, but I am cold, for in the morning the rooms are already so chilly that I long very much for the Schoenhausen fireplaces, and matters in the Chamber are so tedious that I often have serious thoughts of resigning my commission.  In the ministry there is again a shameful measure preparing; they now want to submit a real property tax bill, according to which those estates which are not manors are to be indemnified, while manors must suffer, as the number