26 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



nessed from the windows of the castle— but there is no 

 need of telling you. You are- probably as well informed, 

 if not better than I. But when I left Berlin on Sunday 

 night about seven o'clock, passing the citizen's guard, 

 my heart bled. Fortunately, I met soldiers in most of the 

 halls, which fact had a soothing influence upon me. Many 

 were the proofs of devotion which the officers showed me 

 until I reached the carriage that drove me along the 

 "Linden" to the residence of Major Oelrichs in the Pots- 

 damerstreet. My sister, the Princess Louise,* was with 

 me, while my parents remained with the King. We after- 

 wards drove to Potsdam and are safe at present. I 

 thought to dream that night of the awful, horrifying 

 sight of that funeral procession. The departure of the 

 troops, which left the castle virtually without power of 

 defense, was dreadful indeed. And! what ai humiliation 

 for our dear King and the poor, sick Queen, to be forced 

 by the people to view the horrible corpses from the bal- 

 cony amongst the howling, shouting threats of the multi- 

 tude. This is terrible to me and never shall I care to en- 

 ter the court-yard again. Really, I am disgusted with 

 Berlin forever! I was present on Saturday from four 

 o'clock till midnight and witnessed the struggles of our 

 brave soldiers. Words do not suffice to describe the valor 

 with which they fought. God be praised that, compared 

 with the loss sustained by the mob, but few of our sol- 

 diers fell ; every report of a wounded soldier was terrible 

 to me. This was the first murderous encounter at which 

 I have ever been present ; I am now prepared to go upon 

 the battlefield, the sight will no more be new to me. Last 

 Sunday was the most ill-fated day of my life, up to now. 

 When I left the house in the morning to drive to the cas- 

 tle, a voice told me: "You will not return for some time!" 

 And, how it stands! My effects were then already and 

 are now in safety, many even are in my possession at 

 present. From the moment I entered the castle, where 



*Later Grand Duchess of Baden and then only ten years of 

 age ; the prince was seventeen at the time, — Tr. 



