further sacrifices—­or Prussia’s life-blood.  The Emperor’s threats were partly fictitious; and when Haugwitz was thoroughly frightened and ready to concede almost anything, Napoleon came to the real point at issue, and demanded that the whole of the German coast-line on the North Sea should be closed to English commerce.  With this stringent clause superadded, Hanover was now handed over to Prussia.  Never was a Greek gift more skilfully offered.  The present of Hanover on those terms implied for the recipient Russia’s disapproval and the hostility of England.[76]

This was the news brought by Haugwitz to Berlin.  Frederick William was now on the horns of the very dilemma which he had sought to avoid.  Either he must accept Napoleon’s terms, or defy the conqueror to almost single combat.  The irony of his position was now painfully apparent.  In his longing for peace and retrenchment he had dismissed his would-be allies, and had sent his own soldiers grumbling to their homes.  Moreover, he was tied by his previous action.  If he accepted peace from Napoleon at Christmas, when 300,000 men could have disputed the victor’s laurels, how much more must he accept it now!  He not only gave way on this point:  he even complied with Napoleon’s wishes by keeping Hardenberg at a distance.  He did not dismiss him—­the friendship of the spirited Queen Louisa forbade that:  but Hardenberg yielded up to Haugwitz the guidance of foreign affairs, and was granted unlimited leave of absence.

Popular feeling was deeply moved by this craven compliance with French behests.  The officers of the Berlin garrison serenaded the patriotic statesman, while Haugwitz twice had his windows smashed.  Public opinion, it is true, counted for little in Prussia.  The rigorous separation of classes, the absence of popular education, the complete subjection of the journals to Government, and the mutual jealousy of soldiers and civilians, prevented any general expression of opinion in that almost feudal society.

But when the people of Ansbach piteously begged not to be handed over to Bavaria, and forthwith saw their land occupied by the French before Prussia had ratified the cession of that principality; when the North Germans found that the gain of Hanover by Prussia was at the price of war with England and the ruin of their commerce; when it was seen that Frederick William and Haugwitz had clipped the wings of the Prussian eagle till it shunned a fight with the Gallic cock, a feeling of shame and indignation arose which proved that the limits of endurance had been reached.  Observers saw that, after all, the old German feeling was not dead; it was only torpid; and forces were beginning to work which threatened ruin to the Hohenzollerns if they again tarnished the national honour.[77]