278 Ten Years of my Life. 



our by the most eminent njerchants of New York, afforded 

 him some comfort. ■• 



In acknowledgment of his merit, and as a testimony of the 

 regard in which Baron Gerolt ^vas held in the United States, 

 his friends there presented him with a splendid piece of plate of 

 solid parcel-gilt silver, which arrived in Berlin when the Baron 

 had just arrived there. The Empress desired to see it, and at a 

 dinner given on the birthday of the Russian Emperor it orna- 

 mented the Imperial dinner-table, where it was generally 

 admired. On hearing that the Baron was in Berlin, the Em- 

 peror and the Empress at once sent a gentleman to his hotel, 

 congratulating him on the reception of such a beautiful and 

 well-merited testimonial. On hearing this Prince Bismarck, 

 who was present at that dinner, called the messenger back, 

 saying, * Please tell the Baron the same from me.' 



Though the resignation of the old minister had been granted 

 with all honours, the title of actual Privy Councillor, with the 

 predicate Excellency having been bestowed upon him, there 

 had still remained a cloud between him and the great Premier, 

 and this message therefore was highly gratifying to the worthy 

 old diplomatist. 



On August 7 we drove to Ems. On the Promenade I met 

 his Majesty the King, who gave me his hand, and asked 

 whether we were going to the theatre. I would have liked to 

 go but I could not, having Jimmy with me, and that spoilt fel- 

 low would have cried himself to death if shut up in an hotel 

 room, or placed under the charge of a stranger. 



Next morning I got up at live o'clock, and Felix, myself, 



and Captain von C , with his wife, rode on horseback to 



Ems. When the King saw our party he came and bade us 

 good morning. He was extremely gracious and kind, patted 

 my horse, and said he was pleased to see me on horseback. 



The kind notice which their Majesties took of me caused 

 of course many pangs of jealously, even amongst my nearest 



friends. Mrs. General von S endeavoured to persuade 



me that the King had been much displeased at my appearing 

 on horseback near the Promenade in Ems. She knew for 

 certain from reliable sources. I did not believe it, for if the 

 King had been displeased he would not have come to bid us 

 good morning, and his noble, open face would not have had 

 such a kind expression. 



