SOCIAL POSITION. 361 



fully devoted to it and its five kings, under whose 

 rule I lived. It was not only the knowledge to be 

 acquired at the Prussian military schools and the 

 mental culture there attained, which facilitated my 

 later progress in life, it was also the position of 

 military officer held in such esteem in Prussia, which 

 was of the greatest assistance to me. 



Prussia was, as I have already mentioned in 

 another place, down to the middle of the present 

 century essentially a military and bureaucratic state, 

 only to the nobility and landed gentry certain honorary 

 privileges appertained. An industrial class proper was 

 entirely wanting, in spite of all the effort which 

 enlightened officials, such as Beuth, made in order 

 to form one from the insufficiently developed artisan 

 class. Moreover, as the trade of the country was 

 very limited, there was also wanting a prosperous 

 cultured middle class as counterpoise to the army, the 

 officials, and the landed nobility. Under these circum- 

 stances it was in Prussia of great value, to belong as 

 officer to the court-retinue and to have the entree to 

 all social circles. 



It is customary at the Prussian court for this 

 privilege, possessed by every, even the civil officer, 

 of belonging to the court - circle to be continually 

 exercised. Thus as early as the winter of 1838, when 

 a young officer in the artillery and engineering school, 

 I was commanded to attend great entertainments at 

 the royal palace, and since that time, accordingly for 

 more than half a century, I have frequently been per- 



