— 7 — 
The Holy Roman Empire had drawn its last gasp 
in Napoleon’s day. Germany thereafter was a loose 
confederation of its sovereigns, whose representatives, 
or ambassadors, sat in permanent council (Bundes- 
rath) at Frankfort on the Main, which might thus 
be called the capital of Germany. 
The plan was conceived of seizing Frankfort, 
chasing off the representatives of royalty, and thus, 
as was hoped, striking a spark that would kindle 
fires of revolt throughout Germany. On the evening 
of April 3, 1833, a body of students assembled from 
various universities—Wislizenus among them—less 
than a hundred all told, surprised the Constables 
Watch and the Main Watch, two massive military 
buildings at either end of Frankfort’s main street, die 
Zeile; disarmed the guards, seized the arms and muni- 
tions ; rung the alarm bells, and summoned the citizens 
to rise. Only a handful joined them. Soldiers were 
rushed up, and in a few hours all was over. 
The scheme seems fantastic, but it must be remem- 
bered that older heads had given it sanction; that 
the organization had ramifications throughout Ger- 
many; that the plan involved action at other places, 
of which no account can here be given. But grant- 
ing the plan of these young men to have been chi- 
merical, it still is true that they risked not only their 
future career but life itself under no other inspiration 
than love of liberty and of Fatherland. Such mo- 
tives dignify failure. The student attack at Frank- 
fort in 1833 was a logical forerunner of the popular 
