Visiting. 





On the same evening Countess Seydewitz called, and we 

 drove together to Baroness Schleinitz, wife of the minister of 

 the royal household, where we found company. The conver- 

 sation turned much upon affairs in Mexico and the Emperor 

 Maximilian. One gentleman of the company, whose name I 

 had heard only imperfectly when he was presented to me, ex- 

 pressed himself in a manner with which I did not agree, and I 

 answered him somewhat sharply in defence of my late emperor 

 and friend, to the great amusement of the company, for that 

 dissenting gentleman was the Austrian minister. 



When the ice once was broken things went on extremely 

 well. Many persons belonging to the Royal Court called, 

 amongst them Count Perponcher, and several other distin- 

 guished persons. Felix had written to the Countess Schulem- 

 burg, requesting an audience for both of us. The Queen was 

 indisposed, but the audience was granted for a few days later. 



Meanwhile I received a note from Princess Charles, who 

 wished to see us once more, as she was leaving for Nizza. 

 We accordingly went to her palace, and were presented to her 

 husband, Prince Charles of Prussia, the brother of the King, 

 whom he does not resemble in the least. 



We received also visits from Count Bismarck, Prince Ho- 

 henlohe, and Mr. Bancroft, the American minister. Baron 

 Magnus came frequently, bringing us good news in reference 

 to the affairs of my husband, who was to my great satisfaction 

 appointed a major in the 4th Regiment of Guards, the regiment 

 * Queen Augusta,' of which her Majesty is the chief Had he 

 not left the Prussian service as a young lieutenant he might by 

 that time have been a colonel ; but Felix was nevertheless 

 highly gratified, for he preferred his place of major in the 

 Prussian army to his title of General in the United States and 

 in Mexico. 



On December 17 I received a letter from Countess Schu- 

 lemburg, saying that the Queen would receive us next day at 

 three o'clock p.m. 



Though I am not very nervous in general, and the manner 

 in which I had been received by her sister might have encou- 

 raged me. I must say I felt actually nervous when I drove to 

 the royal palace. Everybody spoke of the Queen with so 

 much love, praising her kindness and amiability, still she was 

 — the Queen. Though I did not expect to see her with crown 



