I
 
 MOLTKE 
 
 CORRESPONDENT.
 
 Field-Marshal 
 
 COUNT HELMUTH von MOLTKE 
 
 CORRESPONDENT 
 
 TRANSLATED BY 
 
 MARY HERMS 
 
 LONDON 
 
 JAMES R. OSGOOD, McILVAINE & CO. 
 
 45, Albemarle Street, W. 
 
 1893 
 
 [.4// rights reserved'^
 
 YRL ' 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I. Letters to his Family. 
 
 FAOK 
 
 Selections from Letters to his Father ... 3 
 
 1840, Via Elwangen and Cannstadt to Stuttgart 
 (p. 6)— Basle— The falls of the Khine— Zurich (pp. 
 9-12) — Over the St. Gothard in adverse weather 
 (p. 15) — The Devil's bridge and the Urner Loch 
 (p. 19) — In snow and avalanches to the St. Gothard 
 hospice (p. 21) — The waterfalls of the Ticino, Bellin- 
 zona (pp. 24-26) — Naples; Street life in Naples 
 (pp. 26-29) — Genoa — Eough passage to Naples 
 (pp. 29-31) — Beggars at Naples (p. 32) — Pompeii ; 
 the excavations (p. 36) — Public and private buildings 
 (p. 41). 
 
 Selections from Letters to his Sister Auguste . 43 
 
 Short biography of his sister Auguste (p. 43) — 1838, 
 Ride with Hafiz Pasha from the Ivarsan Dagh over 
 the Anti-Taurus (p. 48) — An iron pit in the Anti- 
 Taurus (p. 51) — On a raft down the Murad to 
 Charput (p. 53)— 1850, In Paris and Trouville (p. 
 55)— 1 808, At Wildbad (p. 59)— 1869, Thanks his 
 sister for niu'sing his late wife (p. 63) — 1870, In 
 attendance on the Emperor during a visit to King 
 Victor Emmanuel (p. 64) — Enthusiastic reception
 
 vi Contents. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 at Milan (p. 71) — Milan and its sights (p. 73) — 
 1876, At Palace Caffarelli in Kome (p. 78)— Rome ; 
 recollections and new impressions (p. 81)— Naples ; 
 the blue grotto of Capri (p. 83)— 1879, Manoeuvres 
 in Pommerania and Alsace (p. 86-88) — 1880, 
 Journey from Vienna to Gastein in very bad 
 weather (pp. 89-92) — 1881^ Journey in the Tatra 
 mountains (p. 92). 
 
 Sbleotions from Letters to his Sister Magdalene. 93 
 
 Short biography of his sister Magdalene (p. 93) — 
 1866, Probability of a war (p. 94)— 1875, His de- 
 light at Creisau (p. 96)— 1876, The four giants (p. 
 97)_1878,RecoUectionsof his wife (p. 99)— 1883, 
 Death of his sister Guste {p. 102)— 1886, His interest 
 in his nephews' sons (p. 102) — 1888, Death of the 
 Emperor William (p. 104)— 1889, Death of his 
 brother Ludwig (p. 105). 
 
 Selectiokb from Letters to his Brother Fritz . 108 
 
 Short biography of his brother Fritz (p. 108) — 
 
 1866, Autumn near the lake of Geneva (p. 110) — 
 
 1867, Gratitude of the Silesian people — Purchase 
 of Creisau (pp. 112, 113)— 1867, Description of 
 Creisau (p. 114) — 1868, Agricultural depression in 
 the province of Prussia (p. 118) — Revenue of Crei- 
 sau (p. 119) — Advantage of lauded property (p. 
 119)_Pedigree of the Moltkes (p. 123)— Serious 
 political situation (p. 124) — 1869, Offer from his 
 
 sister and brother to make their home with the 
 widower (p. 127) — 1870, At Reims on the way to 
 Paris (p. 129) — Meeting with the Emperor Napoleon
 
 Contents. vii 
 
 PAGK 
 
 after the battle of Sedan (p. 1.32) — Before Paris (p. 
 137) — Accounts of his relations at the seat of war 
 (p. 138) — 1871, Entrance of the troops into Berlin 
 (p. 141)— At St. Petersburg (p. 142)— 1872, Travel- 
 ling adventure of his relations (p. 145) — 1874, At 
 Ragatz (p. 147). 
 
 Letters to his Nephew, Wilhelm von Moltke, and 
 
 HIS Children 150 
 
 1863, Account of his taking his nephew Wilhelm 
 to Wiesbaden — His exhortations to him to take care 
 of his mental and physical health (p. 151) — 1864, 
 Gives him advice about his journey during the 
 holidays (p. 160) — Advantage and disadvantage of 
 the niilitary life (p. 163) — 1866, On his nephew's 
 preparation for the officers' examination (p. 165) — 
 Money and its value (p. 171) — 1878, Business in 
 the Reichstag (p. 174)— 1885, San Remo (p. 176) 
 — 1887-1888, Boulanger — The Emperor Frederick 
 III. (p. 178)— 1890, On the education of boys (p. 
 180)— Home life of the Imperial Family (p. 182) 
 — About and to his eldest great-nephews (p. 185) — 
 Moltke as Opapa — The right medium between 
 avarice and Avaste (p. 189) — Thanks for presents 
 received (p. 192). 
 
 II. Letters to his Friends. 
 
 To His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Albert of 
 
 Saxony 197 
 
 Letters Exchanged between his Friends and Him- 
 self while in the East . . . . .199 
 
 Letters to Major-General Fischer — 1837, Advice
 
 viii Contents. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 to General Fischer about his journey to Constanti- 
 nople (p. 202) — 1839, On his way home at Vienna 
 (p. 207)— 1841, About railways (p. 209)— 1854, 
 The Russo-Turkish difference (p. 212)— 1855, 
 Sebastopol — Appointed aide-de-camp to H.R.H. 
 Prince Frederick William of Prussia (p. 217). 
 
 Letter to Captain Baron von Vincke, 1839, after 
 
 THE Battle of Nisib ...... 220 
 
 Letters from Captain Baron von Vincke to Major- 
 
 General Fischer 222 
 
 1839, Moltke " un chevalier sans peur et sans 
 reproche " (p. 222) — His serious illness at Vienna, 
 when returning home (p. 223). 
 
 Letters to Count Eduard von Bethusy-Huc . . 227 
 
 1866, Position of the hostile armies at the end 
 of May (p. 228)— 1869, Recollections of his wife 
 (p. 233). 
 
 Letters to General von Tumpling . . . .235 
 
 1869, Recollections of his wife (p. 235)— 1870, 
 Condition of the war in November (p. 236). 
 
 Selections from Letters to the Oberhofprediger 
 
 ScHAUBAcn at Meiningen 238 
 
 1875, Thanks for his congratulations (p. 241) — 
 His trust in God (p. 243)— 1880, True value of 
 man here and hereafter (p. 244).
 
 Contents. ix 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Selections from Letteus to the Private Councillor 
 
 OF Finances, von Scheller 247 
 
 1870, State of the War in September and October 
 (p. 248) — Progress of the war in December (p. 250). 
 
 III. Occasional Correspondence. 
 On Religious Subjects ...... 257 
 
 On Education 259 
 
 His favourite books (p. 262). 
 
 On Charity 264 
 
 1871, Provisions for invalids (p. 264). 
 
 International Law, Politics, War .... 267 
 
 1874, Lot of prisoners of war (p. 267)— 1879, On 
 partial disarmament (p. 270). 
 
 Suggestions for the Promotion of Permanent Peace . 271 
 
 War ordained in God's Providence (p. 272) — Hu- 
 mane way of waging war (p. 274) — Dreams of peace 
 by opponents (p. 276) — United peaceable Germany 
 (p. 281)— Moltke in harmony with Kant (p. 282)— 
 War an evil not to be avoided (p. 285)— Words 
 and deeds in politics (p. 286) — On direct and in- 
 direct taxes (p. 288)— On Socialism (p. 294)— On 
 Reconciliation between Germany and France (p. 295). 
 
 Letters of Congratulation, Acknowledgment, &c. . 297 
 To a contemporary (p. 297)— On the merits of
 
 X Contents. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Field-Marshal von Manteuffel and siaccess in war 
 (p. 299) — His nomination to membership of the 
 Knssian Academy of Science (p. 303). 
 
 Various Proofs of Esteem ..... 303 
 
 LiTEEARY Homage 306 
 
 His views on biographies of living persons (p. 309).
 
 I. 
 
 Letters to His Famil}^
 
 SELECTIONS FROM LETTERS TO HIS 
 FATHER.! 
 
 Mao-adino on Lake Mafi-^riore, 
 November 2nd, 1840. 
 
 On the 22nd of October I left Jena after a 
 month's visit. I took my last bath there in snow, 
 which fell through the open roof into the douche. 
 As we drove through the Thuringian Forest we 
 admired the beautiful snow-laden firs, but on the 
 other side of the hills the snow changed into rain 
 and strono; wind. Coburfi; and Bamber^: we 
 passed at night, so I saw but little of this fine 
 country. 
 
 On my way, in the dark, from Nuremberg I 
 was not a little surprised to hear a conversation 
 
 ^ A brief autobiography by bis father is incluied in 
 "Moltke : llis Life aud Character." 
 
 B 2
 
 4 Selections from Letters 
 
 being carried on in Turkish ; but I think the two 
 Armenians, who were returning from the Leipsic 
 fair, were no less astonished when I joined in 
 their chat in the same lanojuao-e. The ekier of the 
 two men was a native of Egin, on the Euphrates. 
 His heart bounded with joy when I told him that 
 I knew the villages and mountains of that neigh- 
 bourhood, and that the Kurds, who had so often 
 devastated his village, had been defeated, and that 
 the restoration of the church there was already 
 begun. He had left his country forty-six years 
 ago, but still remembered the exact number of 
 mulberry trees in the vineyard, and what fruit used 
 to grow on the house. He gave up the house and 
 garden to his Turkish oppressors, when a boy of 
 only ten years old, and went to Constantinople, 
 where, by trade and thrift, he made a fortune. 
 Jann Karabetha, on his way to the Leipsic fair 
 a year ago last Easter, was pressed by a Jew to 
 take a ticket in the Berlin Lottery, and he had 
 won 50,000 thalers (7500/.) His parents died 
 long ago ; his two sisters are both married to 
 wealthy men in Wallachia ; he himself, no longer 
 young, has neither brothers, wife, nor children.
 
 To His Father. 5 
 
 His one wish is to revisit Merkess, on the 
 Euphrates, once more Ijcfore his death, and to 
 devote his money to his native village. It was 
 quite touching to hear him describe the assem- 
 bling of the Echtzar or elders (very likely all 
 buried now), to restore the church ; how he 
 would plant trees ; introduce wheel-barrows into 
 a country where all burdens were still carried ; 
 how he would bring them potatoes, unknown 
 there ; construct a plough on wheels, etc. In- 
 deed, such a man would be a real benefactor to 
 his country. Foreign instructors, Eui'opean 
 politics, the Hattisherif of Gulhane, are not what 
 the country needs, but the wheel-baiTOw and the 
 potato. But all these plans can only be realized 
 when security is given to life and property, and 
 such security is not to be found on the Euphrates, 
 still less so since the defeat of the Turkish army 
 has allowed the Kurds to return to their old habits 
 of plundering. As things are, I had to advise the 
 Armenian to wait patiently and hope for better 
 times, which, however, I fear he will hardly live 
 to see. 
 
 I must leave Ai'menia, and return to Swabia, 1
 
 6 Selections from Letters 
 
 this beautiful country of forests, meadows, villages 
 with picturesque mills, old castles, and cheerful 
 looking little towns. Elwangen, to begin with, 
 is one of the prettiest places to be seen, with its 
 fine castle, and big convent with towers and 
 shrines. In Wiirtemberg the roads are well kept, 
 but badly planned. They seem to follow the 
 direction of the old bridle roads which led to the 
 castles of the robber knights on the tops of the 
 basalt mountains of Rechberg, Staufen, and 
 Hohentwiel. The heights seem to be chosen 
 purposely, even in the beautiful Kems valley, 
 which runs straight along for ten miles ; hills are 
 ascended, only to be descended on the other side, by 
 the help of drags. This would matter little for 
 those who travel merely for pleasure, but the life 
 of the post-horses in Wiirtemberg is a dreadful one. 
 Where the Rems flows into the Neckar the 
 valley is wide and most beautiful. Here stands 
 the lovely little town of Cannstadt -with a magnifi- 
 cent brid2:e over the river, which rushes over a 
 long weir through fertile fields and by villages 
 with stately churches and towers. The modern 
 castle of Rosenstein, built in imitation of the
 
 To His Father. 7 
 
 antique style, overlooks the town, which lies in a 
 deep basin suiToundcd by high hills. These hills, 
 cro"\vned with ruins of old castles, are clothed 
 with vineyards to the height of several hundred 
 feet, and dotted with the little white cottages of 
 the vine-dressers. 
 
 A fine road, planted on both sides with high 
 poplars, runs through some plantations for aljout 
 half an hour's distance as far as Stuttgart. In 
 many respects I prefer the capital of "VVilrtemberg 
 to the much-admired capital of Bavaria. In the 
 latter everything has been done by the king, in the 
 former by the inhabitants ; and the situation of 
 Stuttgart is as fine as that of Munich is desolate. 
 Stuttgart occupies the whole basin of a deep valley; 
 the hiUs rise immediately behind the houses, clad 
 up to their summits with vineyards. No fields or 
 meadows are to be seen here ; the town seems to 
 live upon nothing but grapes. It was just the 
 vintage time, and the evening twilight was lit up 
 now and then by rockets. One of the best things 
 at Stuttgart is the hotel Marquardt, where I re- 
 freshed myself thoroughly after three nights spent 
 in a postchaise.
 
 8 Selections from Letters 
 
 ]\Iy first visit was to the high tower of the 
 Stiftskirche, whose two hundred and fifty steps it 
 is well worth while to ascend. The view from the 
 to]) is most extensive, and greatly facilitates the 
 finding of one's way afterwards. Next I visited 
 the old castle, a fine stronghold, with big round 
 towers and magnificent arcades in the castle yard. 
 In olden times the people of this country not only 
 liked to build their dwellings on the highest hills, 
 but they also liked to live in the highest storeys. 
 An old Count of Wiirtemberg had stairs built up 
 to the fourth storey, which could be ascended on 
 horseback ; a stone by the door served for mount- 
 ing and dismounting. On the ground floor is an 
 arena where the tournaments used to be held. 
 The new castle is a finer building, in proportion to 
 the size of the country, than that at Christians- 
 borg, where the state cannot afibrd the heating of 
 the rooms. 
 
 In the morning I drove to Cannstadt, where I had 
 a delicious bath in the mineral waters. They spring 
 to the height of two feet from a marble shell. The 
 water has a pleasant taste. After the parade I 
 visited the Royal stables, where two hundred and
 
 To His Father. 9 
 
 fifty stallions are kept. My fancy was taken by 
 some thoroughbred Arabs, small white horses, just 
 fourteen hands, by Avliom, from English mares, the 
 biggest horses have been bred. While I was 
 admiring them the king passed. He likes to visit 
 his stables from time to time, and though visitors 
 are not allowed, he bowed courteously to me. 
 
 Going by Tiibingen, which is also very prettily 
 situated, I reached Basle early in the morning, 
 and I went on at once to see the Falls. I "svill 
 spare you a description of this mai'vel of nature ; 
 one might as well try to describe music as a water- 
 fall. Everyone has read so much about the Falls 
 of the Rhine before seeing them, that the spectacle 
 would be indeed beautiful if it could fulfil all 
 expectations. Everything here is on a grand 
 scale ; the breadth of the stream is from two to 
 three hundred feet, the height of the fall eighty 
 feet, and the mass of water is immense. Near the 
 Falls stand two fine castles, and behind them rise 
 the snow-covered Alps. 
 
 The view from Castle Laufen on the left bank 
 is particularly grand. The formation of the rock 
 on one side of the stream forces the shoot of water
 
 lo Selections from Letters 
 
 into the middle channel, thus forming a small 
 space, between the rocks and the lower cascade. 
 This space has been utilized for a construction of 
 strong beams and cramp irons to enable travellers to 
 approach closely the mighty Falls of the Rhine. 
 Descending many steps from the castle to this bridge, 
 and turning round the last rocky corner, this enor- 
 mous mass of water is seldom seen without a feeling 
 of horror. No work of human hands could resist 
 this pressure even for a minute, if the direction of 
 the stream were not already marked out l^y its 
 upper course. Even the rocks shake perceptibly 
 under the uninterrupted fall of this weight of 
 several millions of joounds. The clear emerald 
 green of the water changes into snow-white, foam- 
 ing froth ; the seething waves, thundering down, 
 heap themselves over the rocks which bar their 
 course, and bury themselves in the sand of the 
 river's bed, to reappear hissing and whirling 
 further do^vvn. Clouds of spray ascend from this 
 vortex, and the colours of the rainbow flash in 
 calm purity over the ever-moving confusion of 
 waters, " like love that watches madness." 
 
 Can you believe that anybody who could enjoy
 
 To His Father. ii 
 
 this sight in nature could remain in a dark I'oom 
 to see nothing but a picture of it ? And yet, it 
 must be said that it is nature herself who is the 
 artist. Below the Falls the old tower-like castle 
 Worth, now used as a place for refreshments, 
 stands in the middle of the stream. In one of its 
 upper rooms there is a board covered Avith white 
 linen, the Avindows are shut, and a " camera 
 obscura " quickly represents the whole of the 
 magnificent Falls of the Rhine with inimitable 
 exactness, giving every detail with charming cor- 
 rectness. This must be a valuable study for a 
 landscape jDainter ; but even in this shape it would 
 still be difficult to reproduce. The charm is 
 broken by the first beam of light through the re- 
 opened window. I shall never forget the view I 
 had of the Falls. I was fortunate in seeing them 
 amply supplied with water, and in a bright sun, at 
 noon. 
 
 In the evening I arrived at Ziirich, one of the 
 prettiest cities I have seen ; it lies in a deep valley 
 just where the clear Limmat rushes from the lovely 
 lake. It is a splendid walk over the long bridge, 
 which crosses the river near the lake, and from
 
 12 Selections from Letters 
 
 whicli a fine view of the town hall, the hall, and 
 the beautiful cathedral, can be obtained. At the 
 other end of the lake the snow-covered Alps of 
 Glarus, the St. Gothard, and the glaciers of the 
 Bernese Oberland towered up in a semicircle, and 
 were lit up by the sinking sun, while a bewitching 
 dusk was already resting on the smooth surface of 
 the lake, only slightly rippled by the passing of a 
 steamboat. 
 
 Zlirich used to be fortified, and it is difficult to 
 believe that not nature but human hands have 
 built up these mountains of ramparts, which were 
 constructed to cut ofi" the town from the sur- 
 rounding heights. The pulling down of these 
 fortifications gives plenty of work. The building 
 ground at Zlirich had risen to enormous prices, 
 and the streets were extremely narrow ; but now 
 where the town is taking off her iron dress it 
 grows rapidly. There are some beautiful new 
 buildings, such as the Corn Market and the 
 Hospital. The proprietor of the excellent hotel 
 where I put up has bought a piece of the lake 
 for 12,000 florins. For the last three years he
 
 To His Father. 13 
 
 has gone on filling it up, and lie has already been 
 offered 40,000 florins for this piece of building 
 ground. 
 
 At Zurich I was pleased to read in the news- 
 paper of the capture of Sayda in Sp'ia with the 
 remark : " The first in the ranks at the storming 
 of the place were H.R.H. Ai'chduke Albrecht and 
 Captain Laue of the Prussian Army." If my 
 friend had been a Frenchman, the Avholc grand 
 nation would boast of it, but as he is only a Prus- 
 sian, very likely nobody will take any notice of 
 it. 
 
 To celebrate my birthday heaven favoured us 
 with sunshine, which was quite a change, and I 
 made a beautiful tour that I shall never forget ; 
 froni Ziirich over the Albis, along the lake of Zug 
 to Schwyz and Brunnen on the lake of Lucerne. 
 The last few years I have spent this day in very 
 different suiToundings. In 1833 I was at Genoa, 
 then at Copenhagen, then on the Bosphorus and 
 on the Euphrates ; last year ill at Pesth, where I 
 was so kindly nui'sed by my friend Yincke and 
 his wife. This year I am hale and sound and happy
 
 14 Selections from Letters 
 
 at the foot of the Alps ; and I did what I had 
 
 never done before on October 28th/ namely, took 
 
 a bath in the open air. You will see how much 
 
 benefit I liave derived from the treatment at 
 
 Ilmenau, when I tell you that I bathed in the 
 
 snow waters of the Rhine near SchafFhausen after 
 
 having passed the night in a post-chaise, then in 
 
 the clear waters of the Lake of Zurich, and to-day 
 
 in the Lake of Lucerne, which was quite rough. 
 
 The Fohn, a violent wind from the south, beat the 
 
 waves like the billows of the sea on to the shore. 
 
 I have left off wearing my cotton under-garments, 
 
 and I am in excellent health this autumn, in spite 
 
 of the cold rainy weather, but I must not boast. 
 
 Brunncn lies at the foot of the highest Alps. 
 Beyond rises the Pilatus with its indented top 
 and the Rigi, which, I am sorry to say, cannot be 
 ascended this year, on account of the unusually 
 early and heavy snow. At the sight of this moun- 
 tain I thought of you, dear father, how your horse 
 ran away with you as you were coming down ; when 
 
 1 Thus stated in the original letter ; but, as is well known, 
 his birthday was on October 2Gth. For similar mistake, see 
 his journal written on his way to Constantinople (''Moltkc: 
 His Life and Character").
 
 To His Father. 15 
 
 I saw tlie steepness of these rugged rocks, the 
 thouglit of it was dreadful. Here at Brunnen the 
 first Swiss alliance was made, and over at Griitli, in 
 a little meadow, the second most important meeting 
 was lield ; and where that simple little chapel 
 stands on the steep mountain-side Tell sprang 
 ashore, pushing back the governor's boat into 
 the stormy lake. There may have been a gale 
 on that day, such as we had on the 29th, but 
 Gessler had no iron steamer like ours to fiirht 
 against it. However, "\ve had to cross the lake to 
 Griitli in a rowing boat, violently tossed about 
 before "\ve could go aboard the steamer. The 
 Fohn rushes so powerfully and iiTegularly out of 
 the rocky valleys that the steamer had difficulty 
 to reach Fliielen. The gusts of '^vind raised the 
 surface of the water like a typhoon ; we struggled 
 against the elements, and progressed so slowly, that 
 I had plenty of time to study the wonderful 
 ramifications of the mountains. 
 
 From Altorf we made for St. Gothard ; but 
 now my story becomes rather exciting, and it is a 
 pity that the fact of my wi'iting this letter in Italy 
 betrays to you that I have really crossed it. But
 
 i6 Selections from Letters 
 
 tlie worst that can happen to a traveller on his 
 tour happened to us : a sudden thaw and violent 
 rain after heavy snows. As is well kno"\vn, this 
 route is much exposed to avalanches, especially 
 numerous in winter ond spring, of which, however, 
 we were to have an example. After leaving 
 Altorf the poor horses were hardly able to make 
 way against the violent wind. In spite of drench- 
 ing rain, I remained on the box of the diligence, 
 to enjoy the grand scenery. I had never before 
 seen such valleys, such walls of rock rapidly de- 
 scending from a height of about a thousand feet, 
 and such a turbulent stream as the Reuss. The 
 high road wound higher along the declivity of the 
 mountains, and the stream roared deeper under us 
 in ghastly ravines. The rocks approached closer 
 to each other, the road suddenly curved, and, 
 crossing a bold arch, now went along the other 
 side of the valley. Not far from the village of 
 Vasen a thundering noise was suddenly heard 
 through the loud roaring of the stream. Opposite 
 us, high up near the snow-line, we saw a dark mass 
 loosening and rolling down the ravine with ever- 
 increasing rapidity. Its course was marked by a
 
 To His Father. 17 
 
 cloud of vapour ; it appeared to sight again farther 
 do^vn, big stones and pieces of rock preceded it in 
 mad jumps, and with a dreadful crash this mass of 
 stones and rock moved down into the stream. We 
 were standing straight over it, but about two 
 hundred feet from the bottom of the valley, which 
 enabled us to gaze upon the spectacle without 
 danger. In a moment the bed of the Reuss was 
 completely dammed up, the swollen stream roared 
 and foamed, but the next minute it had overcome 
 the obstacle, and rushed along with a darkened 
 colour over fragments of rocks and trunks of trees. 
 Such a fall of stones is a small thing and only dan- 
 gerous to those whom it overtakes ; but what a 
 landslip means, I had seen the preceding day at 
 Goldau. There it happened, I think in 1806, that 
 a mountain-side slipped and buried in a few 
 minutes a populous village rich in cattle, fields, 
 and houses. Goldau is situated about a quarter, 
 perhaps half, a German mile from the top of that 
 mountain, and if I had not seen it, I should never 
 have believed it possible that blocks of stone of the 
 size of a house could roll on for such a distance. 
 But, once set in motion, nothing can stop them. 
 
 c
 
 1 8 Selections from Letters 
 
 Even to-day the sight of the place is dreadful. 
 For more than a mile in circumference stones are 
 heaped upon stones ten to twenty feet high, so 
 that scarcely a fir-tree grows in this scene of deso- 
 lation, once the fertile pleasant home of man ; it 
 is a Herculaneum for coming centuries ; under 
 these masses of stones the customs of our times will 
 be studied as we to-day study those of the Romans 
 under the ashes of Vesuvius. 
 
 Before we reached the village of Goschenen, a 
 mass of rocks and stones had slipped on to the 
 road behind us ; this Avith another in front of us, 
 prevented our carriage from moving either on- 
 wards or backwards. Nothing was left for us but 
 to walk on. This was by no means easy, for the 
 spaces between the loose debris were filled up 
 with mud, into which we sank up to our knees, in 
 the darkness. To delay would have been danger- 
 ous as fragments continued to fall. In pitch dark 
 and in pouring rain we an^ived at Goschenen. 
 Men were sent to fetch our baggage, and the horses 
 were brought in, but the carriage will probably 
 have to remain where it is for some time. 
 
 On the following day the wind had sunk a little,
 
 To His Father. 19 
 
 but the rain came do^vn all the more steadily. 
 We did not, however, let it prevent us from con- 
 tinuing our wanderings, nor did it disturb our 
 delight in the awful grandeur of the Alpine valley. 
 Near the Schollenen there are such dangerous 
 places, that from time to time so-called rpfuges 
 have been constructed ; they are niches cut in the 
 rocks m which the traveller can hide when he sees 
 an avalanche approaching, and they are frequent 
 here. And by day this could easily be done. From 
 the height of a thousand feet a stone would ordi- 
 narily fall in about eight seconds, along the rocky 
 wall it would fall about three or four times as 
 quickly. This would enable anyone to escape who 
 took care to run about a hundred paces away in 
 the right direction. During the night some stones 
 had slipped do'\\ai here, and it was very difficult to 
 pass, on account of the swollen brook. Near the 
 devil's bridge (Teufelsbriicke) the character of the 
 valley is very wild. The high perpendicular 
 granite walls on both sides, and the fall of the Reuss 
 from the height of a hundred feet, under the 
 arches of the bridge have often been described and 
 represented. Then you enter Urner Loch, a
 
 20 Selections from Letters 
 
 gallery hewn out of the solid rock, from whose 
 dark depths you suddenly see before you the sph'e 
 of the church at Andermatt and the Zwingthurm 
 near the village hospital standing out from a large 
 meadow. The church is the oldest in Switzerland, 
 it was built in the year 600. 
 
 Everything here was covered with snow, and we 
 had to continue our journey on sledges of light 
 structure ; empty barrels formed the seats, and 
 they were drawn by one horse. Each traveller 
 had a sledge for himself. There were three of us ; 
 a Swiss alderman from Unterwalden, a French- 
 man, and myself. Three Germans, travelling 
 journeymen, who had enlisted in the Papal Army, 
 were pilgrimaging on foot to Rome. About an 
 hour before Hospenthal the road was so com- 
 pletely blocked up by avalanches that the horses 
 could go no further. We had provided ourselves 
 with three strong Swiss lads, who carried our lug- 
 gage, so we walked and climbed. Suddenly the 
 guide cried out •' Una valanga," and at the same 
 moment we saw on the opposite side, about two 
 hundred feet behind us, a mass of snow rolling 
 down from the top. It is almost incredible that
 
 To His Father. 21 
 
 mere snow can cause such a terrific noise, and yet 
 this avalanche, ^vhkh. was l3ut small and hardly 
 reached the brook, caused a noise like that of con- 
 tinuous thunder. 
 
 From this point the expedition began to be 
 uncomfortable. The higher we ascended the softer 
 became the snow, the result of rain and a south 
 wind. We sank into it up to our knees, even to 
 our waists. And often while endeavouring to ex- 
 tricate one leg we sank just as deeply with the other. 
 For a while we could endure it, but after an hour's 
 struggle the gale became more violent, rain and fog 
 much denser, and we began seriously to long for 
 the Avails of the hospice, which, however, were not 
 yet to be seen. I had given my mantle to one of 
 the lads, and had nothing else to carry, so I reached 
 it first, the Frenchman was about half-an-houi' 
 behind us, and the lads, already heavily laden, had 
 to support him. At last our whole caravan 
 arrived. 
 
 You can scarcely imagine a more miserable inn 
 than that of the St. Gothard. The government of 
 the canton Ticino has built a large house with many 
 rooms, but the most necessary thing, stoves, have
 
 2 2 Selections from Letters 
 
 been forgotten. There is only one in the whole 
 house, and this one was so draped with wet cloaks 
 and trousers, that it gave no heat in any other 
 part of the large room. Our luggage was wet 
 through, and all we could do Avas to go to bed at 
 five o'clock in the afternoon, after we had had 
 some hot vnne and macaroni with cheese. In the 
 hospice proper there are only two Capuchin 
 monks and a lay brother, Avho, Avith their scanty 
 means, supply poor and needy travellers. They 
 have none of those big dogs now, who used to find 
 lost travellers. 
 
 On the following day we descended the south 
 side of the pass ; there was still more snow than on 
 the north side. The road here winds along 
 extremely steep mountains in endless zig-zags ; we 
 climbed straight dovm. a path which, without the 
 snow, even a chamois would not attempt. If we 
 had not continually sunk in up to our hips, we 
 should have broken our necks ; we had numerous 
 falls, but each time the snow saved us ; and so we 
 toiled for three hours in continual rain. Not till 
 we arrived at Airolo, almost a thousand feet lower 
 than on the north side, did the snow cease. But
 
 To His Father. 23 
 
 now it became very dangerous to climb down the 
 steep, slippery grass. The wind caught my mantle, 
 and together with a recruit of His Holiness, I sailed 
 vent en jpoujpe^ down a green slope much quicker 
 than I liked. We Avere landed happily on a snow- 
 field. The Frenchman involuntarily followed our 
 example, but head foremost, and he would have 
 been thrown into an abyss, had not one of the 
 guides, who was in advance, planted a snow shovel 
 in his course and stopped him in this way. But 
 the poor devil had damaged his knee so badly that 
 he had to stay behind at Airolo. 
 
 This place we reached in three days, not having 
 once taken off our wet clothes. There was no 
 need for me to continue my baths. 
 
 We had hoped to pursue our journey from 
 Airolo in a comfortable carnage, but we were 
 disappointed. The Ticino, a dangerous mountain 
 stream, swollen by the unusually heavy and 
 incessant rains, had destroyed many of the bridges, 
 and damaged the fine road, even washing it away 
 in places. So we were obliged to make oui' way 
 on foot as far as Faido. 
 
 But the journey down the Leventine valley was
 
 24 Selections from Letters 
 
 extremely pleasant and interesting. This part of 
 the country might be called the home of Avaterfalls, 
 and for a friend of this branch of nature's beauty 
 no better way can be proposed than to follow the 
 course of the Ticino. Heavy clouds still hung over 
 the valley bordered by dark firs, but high above 
 them towered the snow-capped mountains, and now 
 and then specks of blue sky showed, seeming to 
 give promise of better times. We now reaped the 
 advantage of the heavy rains by seeing the water- 
 falls at their best. Hundreds and hundreds of 
 cascades rushed down the mountains, each one of 
 them would have been worth a long journey to 
 see. The greater number of them only exist in a 
 sudden thaw, such as we had. Now they appear 
 like silver threads falling down from the clouds on 
 to the high, dark rocks, then they roll down like a 
 glistening veil from rock to rock, soon they spring 
 like fountains over blocks of stone which bar 
 their way, or rush foaming madly down a deep 
 abyss of sixty or a hundred feet. The rapidity 
 of the falling water decreases, because it dissolves 
 into mist and sinks down in graceful foam. 
 
 The Dazo grande is a very imposing sight. The
 
 To His Father. 
 
 25 
 
 Ticino, with its very rapid course, forms a current 
 above Faido, which certainly falls three hundred 
 feet in a distance of about five hundred. The 
 stream runs through such a narrow ravine and 
 between such high perpendicular and often pro- 
 jecting rocks, that the road had, in many places, 
 to be cut into the solid stone, in others it had 
 to be carefully built up with free-stone to the 
 height of from thirty to forty feet. The water 
 seems not to find sufficient room in the bed 
 of the river; in two places the stream is only 
 two feet wide, while in its upper course it has a 
 width of fifty or a hundred feet ; if it were pos- 
 sible to get down to these naiTOW places, they 
 could easily be stepped over. The river bed must 
 either enlarge imdemeath the surface of the water 
 or it must be immensely deep. With teiTific 
 force the pent-up water rushes out of these cre- 
 vices into the larger basins, tumbling in seething 
 foam over the rocks, thundering from fall to fall, 
 while the winding road endeavours to follow its 
 coui'se. Insensibly one leaves the fir-tree behind 
 for the chestnut, the walnut, the vine, cypress and 
 the olive.
 
 26 Selections from Letters 
 
 The first sight of Bellinzona is peculiar. Three 
 forts forming a long wall and reaching as far as 
 the bridge over the Ticino, which is 250 feet long, 
 shut off the valley, two thousand feet wide, from 
 the high mountains on the left hand. The wall 
 is constructed so that it is a defence on both sides, 
 and the little town itself is fortified. 
 
 I have had time to ^viite this long letter, as the 
 steamer is not crossing the lake to-day on account 
 of the bad weather. It is no use going to Italy in 
 such weather as this, we might as well be at the 
 Christmas Fair in Berlin. It rains incessantly, the 
 water of Lago Maggiore has risen fourteen 
 feet. Our hotel is on an island, and one cannot 
 leave the house. In the yard, where we walked 
 about yesterday, boats are required to-day. 
 
 Naples, Nov. 17th, 1840. 
 Now I have exchanged the bleak mountains of 
 the Thuringian Forest for the shores of the Gulf 
 of Naples, the dark firs whose branches sunk under 
 the weight of the snow for the light green of the 
 lemon tree with its golden fruit, and the olive and
 
 To His Father. 27 
 
 the i^alm. Through the open door of my balcony 
 I see, on the opposite shore, Vesuvius with thick, 
 white clouds rising from its crater. Vineyards and 
 gardens cover its base, and an uninterrupted row of 
 houses and palaces — the villages of Portici, Ton^e 
 del Annunciata, Torre del Greco, and Castellamare 
 — extends along the shore. A little further on 
 the right the promontory of Sorrento juts into the 
 sea, and the island of Capri raises its rugged head 
 out of the water ; close under my windows I hear 
 the continuous bustle of this populous city. Every- 
 thing here is noisy, even the dashing of the sea 
 against the rocky shore, and the quays seem noisier 
 to me than in other places. The oyster and fish 
 sellers with their " Frutti di Mare," the donkey- 
 boys, who bring immense loads of vegetables, 
 which at home are only seen in the early sum- 
 mer, flower and grape sellers, coachmen, beggars, 
 and e\'cn sluggards shout, if they do nothing else. 
 If a " lazzarone " feels bored he yells, and imme- 
 diately a crowd assembles round him who also 
 yell to keep him company, and suddenly they all 
 seem satisfied. There you see two fellows playing 
 " a la mora," a game in which you guess how
 
 2 8 Selections from Letters 
 
 many fingers your partner will raise ; by the noise 
 they make you would think they were coming to 
 blows, but they are only conversing in a friendly 
 way. Further on, people are playing with mud 
 balls " il bigliardo del povcro," but all this is 
 done Avith loud screaming. The horses wear bells, 
 and since every one exerts his lungs to the utmost, 
 it is most difficult to make oneself heard. A 
 kind of stupefaction comes over you as you walk 
 through these noisy streets ; suddenly a cab drives 
 close up to you, " Volete carrozza ! " calls out the 
 driver, as loud as ever he can, and he obliges 
 you to make a round to get out of his way. 
 " Eccellenza ! " cries another, and points with a re- 
 proving glance at your boots, which have become 
 very bespattered in the dirty street, and while you 
 are looking at them, the man has already seized 
 you by the leg. He puts a little foot-stool under 
 your foot and in the midst of the crowd of people 
 and horses he restores the polish of your " chaus- 
 sure " for two grani. " Andiamo alia barca ! " 
 shouts a little sailor, barring your way. " Per 
 carita, Signore ! " calls a beggar, stretching out his 
 crutch, so that you are obliged to get over it. On
 
 To His Father. 29 
 
 all sides you are detained by people trying to 
 make you give them some trifle. A German 
 beggar opens the door for you, an Italian shuts it 
 — both for the sake of a coin. 
 
 But before telling you more about Naples, I must 
 give you a description of my journey here. I 
 came by water and in water. Dreadful rains had 
 swelled the rivers in the north of Italy, so as to 
 inteiTupt all communication. The large boat- 
 bridge over the Po was torn away, we had to em- 
 bark, with our wet baggage in little boats, and 
 thus in some danger to cross the wild stream. The 
 weather was horrible, and I hastened to leave a 
 country already known to me, in search of new 
 sights. Everything was seen at a disadvantage. 
 The Borromean Islands in the Lago Maggiore were 
 not much more beautiful than the Moven Island 
 in the Schlei, and even Genova la superha was 
 not nearly so magnificent as usual. 
 
 But this Queen of the Sea will for ever tell of 
 the time when kingdoms were her subjects. The 
 palaces of Durazzo, Balbi, Doria, Caretto, Lavagna, 
 and many others are of royal magnificence. The 
 most costly thing in Genoa, that is space, is lavished
 
 30 Selections from Letters 
 
 on them. If you would see beautiful staircases, 
 yoLi must come here. The steps are often as wide 
 as fifty feet, they are mostly of white and black 
 marble, ornamented with precious statues on both 
 sides and ascend very gently. They lead up to 
 the first and second storeys, where there is nothing 
 to be seen till you reach the dwelling apartments. 
 You have to climb high to get away from the 
 darkness of the narrow streets, but then you are 
 rewarded by a magnificent view. The streets, 
 Balbi nuova and nuovissima are wide, and magni- 
 ficently paved with large square stones, but near 
 the harbour the streets are often very narrow, no 
 wider than a path. My rooms at the Groce di 
 Malta were a hundred and twenty steps high. The 
 dining-room occupied two storeys, and was more 
 like a church than a hall. Stepping out on to the 
 flat roof of the house, you are surprised to find 
 yourself in a lovely orange grove with a bubbling 
 fountain. The water is laid on from the mountains, 
 which rise close behind Genoa, to the height of 
 three thousand feet ; they are covered with coun- 
 try houses, gardens, olive plantations. The forts 
 which crown these hills make Genoa a reduit for the 
 whole army of the kingdom.
 
 To His Father. 
 
 31 
 
 The magnificent sight of Palazzo Lavagna re- 
 called to me vividly Schiller's Fiesco, and the 
 paroxysm of ambition which seizes him when, 
 opening the large doors of his room, he beholds 
 Genoa before him in the splendour of the rising 
 sun. Quite at the opposite end lies Palazzo Doria, 
 the home of Andreas Doria, whose descendants are 
 still flourishing, while the house of Lavagna became 
 extinct with " the Lion." 
 
 Though the sight of the Mediterranean was 
 beautiful as the waves beat against the rocky shore, 
 the tossing became most disagreeable as soon as 
 our steamer SuUy passed the point of the ^lolo. The 
 night was dark and stormy and all the passengers 
 were ill. One of them, who was sleeping on deck, 
 was most unfortunate, a yard fell down and broke 
 his skull ; the poor man, a Russian, barely escaped 
 with his life. It was a long passage ; when we were 
 already in sight of Leghorn the storm became so 
 violent, that we began to think of tui-ning back. 
 However, towards evening we reached the road- 
 stead (we ought to have been there in the morn- 
 ing), and entered the harbour. The captain 
 decided to stay twenty-four houi's to let the gale 
 subside.
 
 32 Selections from Letters 
 
 Every traveller at sea makes the acquaintance 
 of a gale as a " matter of course," and I leave it to 
 you to deduct from my description as much as you 
 think necessary. But the fact remains that I was 
 horribly sea-sick, and that I almost made up my 
 mind never to go on board a ship again. The follow- 
 ing day the sky was blue, the air mild, the sea 
 bright, the ship began to get up steam, the anchor 
 was weighed, and we were out at sea again. But 
 during the night the " sirocco " rose ; our misery 
 began again and continued till we sailed into the 
 *' molo " of Civita Vecchia. Now I had had enough. 
 I disembarked, intending to go to Rome, and from 
 there to Naples ; but our passes had to be vised. I 
 was sent from the Police-station to the Douane, 
 from the Prussian Consul to the Papal Legate, from 
 the Post-ofS-ce to the Custom-house ; everywhere I 
 had to pay, and matters were nowhere satisfactorily 
 settled. No city has ever impressed me so unfa- 
 vourably as this one. Swarms of ragged beggars 
 crowded round me, every one of them seized a 
 piece of my luggage, running away with my 
 travelling bag, my umbrella, or my mantle. At 
 last, when all the difficulties were overcome, I
 
 To His Father. 23 
 
 was asked to pay for two places in the diligence , 
 because otherwise it could not leave till the next 
 morning. They seemed to make sure of me, per- 
 haps they could tell by my face that I did not like 
 a boisterous sea ; but I made up my mind quickly, 
 took a boat, had my luggage put in and embarked 
 again on the Sullij, which went rocking on slowly 
 in the direction of Cape Circello. If the com- 
 panions of Ulysses had been as sick as I and my 
 fellow-sufferers, there would have been no need 
 for them to stop their ears with wax. No sirens 
 could have succeeded in making us listen to their 
 beautiful songs. 
 
 At Civita Vecchia, which looks beautiful from 
 the sea, I was so happy as to make the acquaint- 
 ance of the most notorious robber-chieftain of our 
 times. He had led many expeditions, on which no 
 less than thirty men had been murdered at one 
 time, and in spite of all his crimes he seemed well 
 pleased with himself. At last a treaty had been 
 made between His Holiness and Signor Gasparino 
 in consequence of which the latter had been sent 
 to Ancona. But not very long after, this hravo 
 thinking that he had been taken advantage of, re- 
 
 D
 
 34 Selections from Letters 
 
 fused to keep the contract. He again lieaded his 
 band and plundered worse than before. The 
 Papal Government made a new treaty with him. 
 The robber captain was given comfortable apart- 
 ments at Civita Vecchia ; he now receives four paoli 
 per day and four courses at his meals, and leads a 
 quiet life under the care of a guard. He was, at 
 any rate, the most amiable person I met at Civita 
 Vecchia. 
 
 I am sure that travelling long in Italy must 
 deteriorate the character. The Italians seem to 
 be a nation of Facchini, Camerieri, Vetturini, 
 Hospiti and Ciceroni, Avho have united to 
 plunder the traveller. It is true they cheat him 
 to gain but a trifle, but it is always vexing to be 
 taken in. The consequence is that bad inten- 
 tions are often suspected, even where they do 
 not exist. Nobody can be trusted ; for every 
 purchase one has to bargain, and yet one is 
 cheated every time. In Germany, if the poor 
 man expects a reward for rendering you a service, 
 in Italy the beggar forces you to give him 
 something ; making himself as unbearable as 
 possible that you may rid yourself of him by
 
 To His Father. 35 
 
 sivinir liim an alms. He holds you by your coat, 
 shoAvs you the most nauseous wounds and mutila- 
 tions, abuses you if you don't give him what he 
 asks for, and lauahs at you when you do. If 
 you ask the name of the street, your informant 
 stretches out his hand for a reward. A decently 
 clad man followed me through Leghorn to show 
 me the Prussian Consul's house which had already 
 been pointed out to me. I told him that he need 
 not trouble himself, as I should not give him 
 anything. " Ecco la casa, al terzo piano " (on the 
 third floor) said the man and went away. 
 Astonished at his modesty, I ascended the high 
 stairs, and. found that the consul lived on the 
 ground floor. 
 
 It is best not to give an Italian all that you in- 
 tend to sfive him at once. If he receives five francs 
 
 o 
 
 for ever so small a sei-Adce he is sure to say : " e poco. 
 Signer" (it is little). But supposing you gave 
 him first one franc then half a franc, he would 
 very likely be satisfied. This is a low trait in 
 his character. Satisfied with anything if neces- 
 sary, he ^vi\\ try to get more as long as there is a 
 possibility. 
 
 D 2
 
 36- Selections from Letters 
 
 On the lOtli of November, at noon, we were 
 under the shelter of the Isknd of Ischia. We 
 passed quickly by the high castle of Procida, and 
 the beautifully shaped Cape Miseno, sailed through 
 the bay of Baja and Puzzuoli, rounded the 
 Posilippo, and beautiful Naples lay before us. 
 But clouds hung about Vesuvius and darkened 
 Cape Sorrento, diminishing the beauty of the view 
 that we had expected to enjoy. I saw Constan- 
 tinople for the first time, at the end of November, 
 and I must say that in beauty it exceeds Naples. 
 
 The chamberlain von Oertzen, whose acquaint- 
 ance I made on the journey, and I, have taken 
 comfortable and cheap apartments together on the 
 Strada Lucia, whence I make my excursions. 
 
 One of the most interesting objects to be seen 
 in Italy is Pompeii. You are transported, as if by 
 magic, from the present into past ages, from 
 the nineteenth century into the first century of 
 the Christian era. Time, migration of nations, 
 and amateurs in art, have destroyed the most 
 magnificent, most solid constructions of the Greeks 
 and Romans. Nothing is left of the gigantic 
 temples and theatres, but isolated shafts of
 
 To His Father. 2>7 
 
 columns, and half-sunken vaults. But Pompeii 
 was overwhelmed by a convulsion of nature, and 
 in one day, in the midst of life her inhabitants 
 were caught, en flagrant delit, and entombed for 
 two thousand years. 
 
 The earth itself was the museum that preserved 
 not only the works of art, but all the household 
 arrangements of the population. A layer of 
 ashes and pumice-stone, ten to twenty feet thick, 
 protected all these things from destruction ; at 
 the beginning of the last century it was knoAvn 
 that Pompeii had been buried by an eruption of 
 Vesuvius in the year a.d. 79, but not where 
 the city was situated. Some inscriptions found 
 in well-sinking gave the first indication of the 
 site. At present about a fourth, perhaps the 
 most interesting, part of the old town, with its 
 vineyards and country-houses, has been brought 
 to light. The following buildings have been exca- 
 vated : the forum, two theatres, the street of the 
 artisans and merchants, the amphitheatre before 
 the gates, the street of tombs, and the houses of 
 some well-known men, such as Cicero, Diomedes, 
 Sallust, etc.
 
 ;S Selections from Letters 
 
 At the time of the eruption the inhabitants of 
 Pompeii were assembled at the amphitheatre, 
 whose marble steps and lions' cages are now spread 
 out before our eyes. Very likely most of them 
 had time to save themselves ; yet many bodies 
 have been found of those who were overtaken. 
 Before the door of the large beautiful house of the 
 freedman Diomedes, the skeleton of a man Avas 
 found with a key in one bony hand, and a bag of 
 money in the other. 
 
 In the lower vaults of the temple of Isis lay 
 the skeleton of another with a crowbar in his 
 hand ; the man had Avorked himself through two 
 thick walls. A woman's skeleton was found with 
 two children in her arms, whom she must have 
 tried to protect from the rain of ashes ; a petrified 
 piece of ashes is still shown to the travellers, with 
 the impression of a beautiful bosom. 
 
 But nothing is more surprising in visiting this 
 Epimenides of towns, than the freshness of the 
 colours, which have covered the walls for about 
 two thousand years. Almost all the floors of the 
 bigger houses are inlaid with most delicate mosaics, 
 and the fountains, ornamented with fragile cockles
 
 To His Father. 39 
 
 aud shells, look as if tlicy had only just been 
 finished. You would marvel at the correctness 
 of the drawing and the brightness of the colours 
 of the floating figures, on red and black back- 
 grounds, which adorn the Avails, having reference to 
 the different purposes of the several rooms. One 
 pillar, found in the house ol' a cloth manufacturer, 
 explains the whole process of this business ; there 
 are the loom, the damping and "washing machines, 
 and also a jjress worked with screws in the same 
 manner as those of the jDresent day. The dining- 
 rooms are decorated with paintings of fruit, flowers 
 and hunting scenes. The names of the artisans as 
 well as those of the streets, are written on the houses 
 in good writing and generally in red ; sometimes 
 there are witty mottoes and figures painted in 
 much the same way as they are found on our 
 Avails. The carriage Avheels have left their marks 
 in the hard laA'a pavement, and in some places the 
 stones, put for crossing the street in Avet weather, 
 are still lying there. Bread, flour, oUa'cs, figs, 
 beans have been found (all charcoaled), wine, 
 jugs (pointed amphoras as they are used to-day in 
 the East), numerous potter's vessels of most dainty
 
 40 Selections from Letters 
 
 shape witli -well-known figures on black ground, 
 stoves, ovens, all kinds of tools, surgical and musical 
 instruments, dice, chess-boards, kitchen utensils 
 and scales, and all these things only differ from 
 our present fashions in that they are more highly 
 finished and in better taste. 
 
 Considering that Pompeii was only a country- 
 town of secondary importance, it is astonishing to 
 see the number of bronze and marble statues, of 
 paintings and mosaics, of vases and jewellery, 
 which have been dus: out. The Forum civile 
 must have been very beautiful ; it is a square 
 place arranged according to the proportions of 
 Vitruvius. The summit of the hill- of Castella- 
 mare and the crater of Vesuvius, which brought 
 this ruin upon the town, can be seen from here. 
 On three sides of it there are more than two thou- 
 sand Doric columns in good preservation. They 
 are of tuffa covered with stucco and painted red or 
 yellow. These columns used to form a portico, or 
 covered walk, but the beautifully carved cornices 
 have fallen in. On the fourth side stood a 
 temple where was found the gigantic head of a 
 Jupiter. Twelve magnificently grooved marble
 
 To Ills Father. 41 
 
 pillars of the peristyle are still standing. The 
 Curia J the Basilica, the Temi^les of Mercury and 
 Concordia, the Pantheon come next. The many- 
 statues which adorned this square have been taken 
 to the museum at Naples, as Avell as the greater 
 part of the art treasures, paintings and mosaics. 
 If they had been left in their old places they would 
 probably have been soon destroyed. But it is to 
 be regretted that not one Roman house has been 
 restored here, where all necessary material was at 
 hand. 
 
 The ancients bestowed much more trouble and 
 expense on their public buildings and less on their 
 own houses than we, but everything was neat 
 even to the veriest detail. The rooms which sur- 
 rounded a square court-yard are seldom larger 
 than eight to ten feet square ; they are unconnected 
 with one another. 
 
 The Pompeians must have had frequent inter- 
 course with the Egyptians. This is proved by 
 their sculptures, papyri, their temple of Isis and 
 the mummies that have been found. If one of 
 these could rise and take a look at us, he would 
 be as much surprised at our appearance in coats
 
 42 Selections from Letters to his Father. 
 
 and round hats, and at our arrival by train, as ^ve 
 arc at his town. 
 
 At a chemist's medicine bottles of glass con- 
 taining medicines, and marble jugs, Avith balsams 
 for the embalming of mummies, were found. I 
 have been lucky enough to obtain a little piece 
 of this hard mass which, in spite of the two thou- 
 sand 3^ears that have elapsed, still retains a strong 
 smell. 
 
 i
 
 AUGUSTE VON MOLTKE. 
 
 SELECTIONS FROM LETTERS TO HIS 
 SISTER AUGUSTE. 
 
 AuGDSTE VON MoLTKE, the youiigest sister of the Field- Marshal, 
 vas born at Augusteuhof in Holstein, on September 16th, 
 1809. From her earliest childhooJ she had always been her 
 brother's favourite, and very early the rich endowments of her 
 character were seen in her humility, kindness of heart, and 
 ready self-denial. On the 21st of May, 1834, she was married 
 to John Heyliger Eurt, of Colton, near Lichfield in England, 
 owner of the plantation of St. John on the island of St. Croix 
 in the "West Indies. Her husband, who had lived in Germany 
 for some time, had by his first wife, Ernestine von Staffeldt, 
 three children, the youngest of whom, Marie, afterwards becamo 
 the wife of the Field-Marshal. IIow much devotion Augusto
 
 44 Selections from Letters 
 
 von Moltke lavished on the education of her step-children, and 
 with what affection they returned her care has been told in 
 the biography of " Marie Moltke." (See " Moltke : His Life 
 and Character.") 
 
 The Burts lived first at Schleswig, then at Itzehoe ; their 
 marriage was a very happy one ; Auguste presented her husband 
 with two children, a son, Hepry, later aide-de-camp of the Field- 
 Marshal, and a daughter, Ernestine. In 1855, Mr. Burt 
 determined to go and see his property in the West Indies ; 
 on his way home he was taken ill and died on board on the 
 25th of July, 1S5G ; his body was buried at sea. In 1864, when 
 her brother Fritz lost his wife, Auguste (though still mourning 
 for her husband) went to him to comfort him in his trouble. 
 She remained with him, took the cares of the household upon 
 herself, and made his lonely life bright again. In December 
 of the year 1868, when Marie, the Field-Marshal's wife, fell 
 ill, she hastened to the sick-bed of the dear daughter, but her 
 faithful and self-sacrificing care did not succeed in keeping off 
 the dreaded evil ; Marie died on the evening of Christmas 
 Day. Auguste now resolved to devote herself to her brother 
 Helmuth, who was severely shaken by the loss of his beloved 
 wife. And she was encouraged in her determination by the 
 gracious words of Queen Augusta, who gave her an audience 
 at which she told her that it was her duty to remain with her 
 brother, who must be preserved for his King and his Fatherland. 
 She and her brother Fritz then went to live with the Field- 
 Marshal, over whose households in Berlin and at Creisau she 
 henceforth presided. On March 27th, 1883, death ended her 
 useful life, which was full of blessing to others and whose 
 motto had been: " Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, 
 continuing instant in prayer." How much her brother Helmuth 
 must have loved her is shown by the fact that he buried her 
 remains in the vault at Creisau, whore he now rests himself 
 between liis wife and his favourite sister.
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 45 
 
 Cliarpiit, July 4tli, 1838.^ 
 My dear Sister Gustchen, 
 
 Your Avelcome letter of April 12tli has 
 found its way to Armenia safely. I received it on 
 our march here, and as we have been resting for 
 three days I will not delay any longer, but answer 
 it in spite of my planned laziness. Having been 
 for two months in continual movement, sleeping 
 either in a tent or in the open air, I can say with 
 FalstafF, " "Wenn ich weiss, wie das Innere eines 
 ' Zimmers ' aussieht, bin ich ein Brauerpferd, ein 
 Blindel Radies." ^ Just now I am stretched out 
 on cushions in a good, high apartment ; I am lazy 
 a dessein, and do not stir a finger unless obliged, 
 eat after well considering my digestion, avoiding 
 Turkish favourite dishes as " pillav " with honey 
 and cream, sour milk with cut-up cucumbers and 
 garlic, &c. A case of champagne has fortunately 
 arrived for me, and I hope that I and my exhausted 
 
 ' Compare Letter No. 48 in "Briefe liber Zustjinde und 
 Bt'gebenheiten in der Tiirkei," p. 284 (5th Edition). 
 
 ■ " Henry IV.," act iii. scene 3 : " And I have not forgotten 
 what the inside of a church is made of, I am a peppercorn, a 
 brewer's horse."
 
 46 Selections from Letters 
 
 horses will be in good condition again in a few 
 days. 
 
 This time I write my letter to you, my dear 
 Gustchen, partly to answer your kind letter and 
 also because father will probably not have returned 
 from his journey when it arrives. But I shall not 
 forget to drink his health on the 12th of this month 
 in a bottle of French sherbet. 
 
 Really I have nothing more to tell you than 
 that we crossed the Anti-Taurus by a perilous 
 path, and then leisurely descended the Euphrates, 
 which is only four hours distant from our present 
 headquarters. 
 
 After the revolts of the Kurds in the Karsan 
 mountains (the most precipitous that can be 
 imagined) had been put do^vn, I went with the 
 Commander to their camp on the foot of the hills 
 where they had left their tents and luggage. The 
 temperature here was about ten degrees warmer 
 than amongst the snowy summits. There were 
 no fine walnut-trees to give shade, no rustling 
 mountain brooks, and the life in the tents, which we 
 could hardly leave during the day on account of 
 the heat, was made very disagreeable at night by
 
 To His Sister Aucuste. 47 
 
 quantities of scorpions, tarantulai and snakes 
 which we killed every day, hut of which we never 
 STot rid altogether. However, none of them he- 
 longed to the most virulent species, the onl\' 
 danger was in being stung by them. But millions 
 of most insuiFerable flies did not allow us a minute's 
 rest as long as it was day-light. I should have 
 been thankful for one of your veils. But one 
 thing I can say in favour of this country, there are 
 no bugs, and this circumstance makes up, in my 
 opinion, for all the other plagues of insects. 
 
 AYe were heartily pleased when Hafiz Pasha 
 declared at supper, on the 25th of June, that we 
 should break up in an hour. He intended to \'isit 
 a place in the Taurus where new iron works were 
 to be constructed, and wished to precede the 
 troops. Though we were without military escort. 
 except some cavasses with long lances, our pro- 
 cession numbered almost two hundred horse. 
 Each horseman carried his own arms, and most of 
 them had guns over their shoulders. 
 
 In brilliant moonlight we passed through a 
 wide and fertile but uncultivated plain, without 
 dAvelling-places, a real desert ; for no Kurd dares to
 
 48 Selections from Letters 
 
 settle wliere tlie fruits of his industry arc not 
 protected by high mountains. 
 
 After a two hours' ride we heard the roaring of 
 the Battman stream, and soon found ourselves con- 
 fronted by a wonderful construction, a bridge 
 of formidable height which spans in a single 
 arch, with a tension of a hundred feet, the wild 
 impetuous mountain stream. This bridge pro- 
 bably dates from the time when the Genoese 
 constructed works here to protect their Indian 
 trade. Neither the industry nor the diligence of 
 the Turks has been able to destroy them com- 
 pletely during the space of two hundred years. 
 Other monuments of this small, far-away, though 
 important commercial town are seen in the strong 
 castle and two bridges over the Tigris at Djesireh, 
 destroyed by Reschid Pasha only two years ago, 
 and a bridge over the stream at Hosn-Keifa built in 
 the same bold style of architecture, but now fallen 
 in. Then their trade route seems to have gone 
 towards the north along the Battman over the 
 Taurus and the Murad down to Palu, where on an 
 isolated rock of about two thousand feet rise the 
 ruins of one of their castles, a position almost un-
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 4Q 
 
 assailable. The strong castles on the summits of 
 the heights at Tokat, Turchal, and Amasia, must 
 have been built by the Genoese on foundations of 
 much older date, they seem to have been connected 
 with the fortified sea-side places of Samsoon and 
 Sinopc. 
 
 We then rode along the foot of the mountains, 
 till, towards morning, we arrived at the town of 
 Farkin or rather at an extensive ruin, between 
 whose old pillars and arches detached mud huts 
 are built. Meva-Farkin must once have been an 
 important toAvn. AValls of large and carefully 
 hewn stones are, for the greater part, still pre- 
 served. Their construction is exactly similar to 
 that of Diarbekir, only that at Farkin sandstone is 
 used, while Diarbekir is built of basalt. Within 
 the walls are beautiful remains of churches and 
 houses, but they are only ruins, as for hundreds of 
 years much has been destroyed and nothing restored 
 in this land. Our only resting place was a damp 
 field, where we stayed whilst our horses gi-azed for 
 a few hours. 
 
 Though we had been in the saddle for ten hours, 
 we continued our journey the following morning, 
 
 E
 
 50 Selections from Letters 
 
 and rode for six more hours, with the same horses — 
 our own good horses — and that when they had no 
 oats to eat, but only grass. At noon we turned to 
 the right, ascending a narrow valley, to the pretty 
 town of Hasru. The surrounding mountains have 
 greatly protected cultivation. A beautiful clear 
 mountain stream, plantations of poplars, whose 
 slim trunks rise up close to one another like the 
 blades of a corn-field, large walnut and mulberry 
 trees and extensive vineyards, give a most friendly 
 appearance to the place. A tent was put up for 
 the Pasha, on the flat roof of the Mussolim's house, 
 from which Ave had a lovely view over the moun- 
 tains and the plain, and then we had our much- 
 needed dinner. 
 
 Here, as everywhere, the Pasha received peti- 
 tions and complaints from the inhabitants and 
 checked many abuses. But as long as the evil is 
 not attacked at the root, such help can only be 
 incomplete. 
 
 The next morning we climbed a height only to 
 descend on the other side down a path cut in steps. 
 I think only native horses with circular shoes could 
 do such a journey without being lamed. Towards
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 5 1 
 
 evening we reached lUidslia, another pleasantly- 
 situated little mountain town. AVe entered with 
 the Pasha a beautiful, vaulted hall Avhere a 
 fountain was playing ; and avc did not ol)ject to 
 some sherbet and pipes, which were offered to 
 us, nor did we object to being perfumed with aloe 
 and sprinkled with rose-water. 
 
 After another troublesome ride, Ave arrived 
 towards evening at Sivan-Maaden, a desolate 
 mountain-valley Avhere a foundry is to be built. 
 Some of the horses could not keep up ; the poor 
 animals had been without food for fourteen hours, 
 so we halted for a day. 
 
 The valleys and slopes of this mountain-range 
 are covered with big and small black stones or 
 lumps of iron ore ; the richness of the ore is so 
 great that it contains more than fifty per cent, of 
 pure iron. In our country iron has often to be 
 brought up from a depth of a thousand feet, with 
 great trouble, but here it has only to be picked up ; 
 there is enough to last about a hundred years. 
 The same abundance is found in a mountain-stream 
 not far off; this rivulet joins the Tigris, and with 
 the help of blasting, it could be made navigable. 
 
 1. ^
 
 52 Selections from Letters 
 
 A Frenchman of tlie name of Chatillon had been 
 sent here to construct a furnace, and we were just 
 in time to save him from the intrigues of Turkish 
 officials. The work, Avhich had made no progress 
 at first, is noAv carried on with great zeal by the 
 help of the Pasha. 
 
 We also brought help to a German countryman, 
 an honest and skilful blacksmith. In the presence 
 of the Pasha he made out of iron which he had 
 smelted himself, a very good steel sword, for which 
 the Pasha rewarded him generously. The Pasha 
 o-ave a beautiful horse to M. Chatillon, promised 
 to decorate him with the Nishan, if he were 
 successful, and granted him, what was more 
 valuable than anything else, protection against the 
 io-norance and malice of the proper authorities. 
 
 The following morning a two hours' ride brought 
 us to the banks of the Murad, a south tributary 
 of the Euphrates, which rushes along here through 
 mountains that up to July are covered with snow. 
 These mountains must be about 12,000 or 13,000 
 feet above the level of the sea. As you, my dear 
 Guste, are not the sole reader of my letters, you 
 must not mind if I make a geographical note here.
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 53 
 
 It is very remarkable that the tributaries of the 
 Tigris spring in the immediate neighbourhood of 
 the shores of the ]\Iurad, which even in summer is 
 here a river the size of the Moselle. The springs 
 of two of these rivulets are separated from the 
 !Murad at most about a thousand paces, and by a 
 slight elevation, breaking through the snow-capped 
 mountains, they only unite with the waters to which 
 they were once so near, after a course of about 
 three hundred hours. 
 
 The Pasha, a khan who was driven away from 
 Daghestan, the Zeni of the camp, Miihlbach and 
 myself as well as some servants embarked now on 
 a raft of sheep-skin. To protect om'selves from 
 the scorching sunbeams we made a roof of branches, 
 and so we descended the rapid stream after our long, 
 fatiguing journey. Mighty heights rose on both 
 sides. Cheerful villages were seen in the shade of 
 the beautiful large trees in the valleys. The in- 
 habitants plunged into the sea-green whirlpools of 
 the stream, in order to get for us apricots and nuil- 
 berries, which are very fine and SAveet here. A 
 rocky wall on the left, seven or eight hundred feet 
 high, was particularly beautiful. In some places the
 
 54 Selections from Letters 
 
 whirlpools were very violent, our " kclck " or raft 
 sliot along like an arrow, and the waves, beating 
 on the rocks, came back foaming over our deck. 
 No boat, not even a wooden raft, could pass these 
 places, but the sheep-skins tied together by thin 
 wicker-work, flexible like a fish, iDcnd with the 
 waves and rise on the surface like a feather ; 
 unless they are swamped, as we were at Djesireh, 
 where the pillars of the bridge formed a kind of 
 funnel six or eight feet deep. This time we reached 
 Palu, of Avhose high tower I have told you before, 
 without any accident. We now toiled up the 
 steep and dirty streets of the to^vn, and we were 
 rewarded by excellent quarters at the house of a 
 rich and most hospitable Armenian banker. Our 
 horses arrived late in tlie evening. At last we 
 reached Charput on the following day, when we 
 did our best to recoup our strength in every way. 
 But in a few days we shall, very likely, make a 
 fresh start and go to Malatia. 
 
 H. M.
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 55 
 
 Trou ville-sur- mc r, 
 
 Department Calvados, 
 
 September 30th, 1850. 
 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 I am afraid you will think us quite lost, 
 and I hasten to tell you that "\ve are well and that 
 we have already taken half-a-dozen sea-baths, 
 which have been beneficial. 
 
 Marie sent you our last news from Rehme. It 
 had begun to be quite winterly there, when we 
 left on the 7tli inst. We stayed a few days at 
 Koblentz where we saw many old friends ; this was 
 a great change after our life at Magdeburg. ^Ye 
 went by steamer to Frankfort-on-tlie-]\Iaine, 
 admiring the beautiful banks of the Rhine, then 
 by train through the lovely country of the Palati- 
 nate to Metz, a beautiful old city with a magnifi- 
 cent cathedral and French fortifications. But the 
 monotonous French chalk plateau begins here 
 with the dull country of Champagne, and this 
 monotony is uninterrupted till you reach Soissons, 
 where the country begins to be pleasant and the 
 railway takes you along by the Mame to Paris in 
 a few hours.
 
 56 Selections from Letters 
 
 We remained a week there, favoured \^-itli most 
 beautiful weather, that we might have time to 
 see the principal sights of this immense capital. 
 Our hotel was situated on the boulevards at one of 
 the most interesting points of the city. After an 
 early cup of coffee we used to set off, and did not 
 return till evening, much fatigued by the pleasures ' 
 of the day. In the mornings we looked about the 
 toAvn, we saw the Tuileries, Champs Elysees, Notre 
 Dame, Jardin des plantes, and the shops which, 
 rivalling each other in magnificence, occupy 
 the ground-floors in almost all the streets. It is 
 astonishing what a variety of things is offered 
 for sale, and how tastefully, not only silks and 
 caps and bonnets, but also eatables, fish, game, 
 cheese, and fruit, are arranged. It is marvellous 
 whence the purchasers of all these delicacies 
 come, all the more so as everything is ex- 
 pensive. 
 
 The distances are so great that one cannot count 
 upon having one's meals at home. But meals are 
 served everywhere. The dinners a la carte are 
 excellent, but the prices are very high. We kept 
 your birthday at the celebrated " ^''ery " in the
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 57 
 
 Palais Royal (now National) with a dejeuner and 
 good cliampagnc. 
 
 In the afternoons we used to take the train to 
 Versailles, St. Cloud, Meudon, St. Denis, etc., and 
 were generally favoured with fine weather. We 
 dined at six o'clock and went to the opera or 
 theatre at eight. We have been at the Varictes, 
 where five pieces are performed one after the other, 
 the Theatre Fran9ais and the Opera. 
 
 As the season was advancing we had to think 
 seriously of our intended sea-baths. The railway 
 from Paris to Havre by Rouen runs through 
 a beautiful country in tlic lovely Seine valley. 
 Many bridges cross over the winding river, and 
 viaducts, a hundred feet high, are built over the 
 valleys. After crossing one of these viaducts the 
 train rushes with tremendous rapidity towards 
 a steep chalk wall ; it seems as if it must be 
 wrecked, when suddenly, entering a long tunnel of 
 about two thousand paces, it emerges upon an 
 entirely different country. Rouen, the capital of 
 the old Normans, those bold Norwegian pirates 
 who conquered England, Sicily, and Naples, and 
 can-icd their banners even as far as the gates of
 
 58 Selections from Letters 
 
 Jerusalem, is one of the finest cities of the world. 
 The cathedral and the " Palais do justice " are 
 beautiful buildings, far surpassing those of Notre 
 Dame and St. Denis. 
 
 We found the sea-baths at Havre uninviting, 
 and decided to cross the mouth of the Seine, 
 which is about the width of two German miles, 
 to come to Trouville, a charming little town with a 
 lovely beach for bathing. On both sides rise the 
 chalk cliffs of Normandy, covered with fine 
 forests, and crowned with beautiful chateaux. 
 A little river with wide green meadows on both 
 banks is used as harbour, where day by day the 
 oyster-fishers go out to sea, bringing home excellent 
 soles, turbots, large rusty dabs with their long 
 tails and all kinds of tasty sea-monsters, whose 
 names I do not know in German. 
 
 Our room looks out on to the boundless sea, 
 and only on the right rises the promontory of 
 Havre, with its lighthouses. Large steamers are 
 to be seen along the horizon, and in every direction 
 fishing boats are crossing the water, whose high 
 waves, at the present moment, are beating with 
 tremendous roaring against the shore. A fresh
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 59 
 
 north-westerly wind is blowing. Rapidly moving 
 clouds come down now and then in heavy showers, 
 and it requires some strength of mind to bathe in 
 the sea, especially after the warm baths at Rehme. 
 But this bathing is much more invigorating. As 
 long as the tide permits, Ave shall bathe at ten 
 o'clock ; at half-past ten we have dejeuner, an 
 excellent meal. AVe have hired horses and arc 
 now able to make excursions into the country. 
 Dinner is served at half-past five o'clock, witli 
 many different courses, each one excelling the other, 
 and in addition we have excellent appetites, which 
 enable us to appreciate the good things. Life 
 in this place is not expensive ; and so we have 
 decided to continue our baths here as long as 
 ever the weather permits, and then to make a short 
 trip to England, going by Dieppe and Boulogne. 
 I hope all is going well with you. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Wildbad, October 4th, 1868. 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 It is time to give you news of us at last, 
 as half of our time here has already passed.
 
 6o Selections from Letters 
 
 We arc rather late this year, most of the visitors 
 are ah-eady leaving. The few that are left are 
 chiefly invalids, many of them suffering from 
 paralysis. It rains almost every day in this hill 
 country, but when the sun breaks through the 
 clouds, it is very beautiful in the narrow Avooded 
 valley of the Enz. Here, as everywhere in the 
 Black Forest, thick fir- woods cover the hills and at 
 their feet are meadows of a lovely fresh green. Well- 
 kept paths lead up to the hills in all directions. 
 
 Tlie baths are beautiful and quite unique. 
 They are made of china, the natural granite 
 forming the bottom of the bath, which is carefully 
 covered with sand to protect the feet. Im- 
 mediately out of the rock gushes the warm spring, 
 twenty-seven and a half degrees R. which su]Dplies 
 the baths with water of the same temperature 
 without any interruption. 
 
 This water is similar to the springs at Gastein 
 and Ragatz. Chemical analysis has not discovered 
 any other constituents in it but those of distilled 
 water, and the effect seems to be based upon the 
 natural warmth of the earth, upon magnetic or 
 electric power, two agents with which science is at
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 6i 
 
 present but imperfectly acquainted. At first the 
 baths made me very tired, and I suffered again 
 from palpitations of the heart, as I did thirty years 
 ago. But noAv they agree well with me. The 
 physicians tell me that the baths stir up all old 
 complaints, but that they also cure them. To tell 
 you the truth, I think that six weeks at Creisau 
 will do me more good than at any watering-place. 
 
 Marie has taken ten baths, and is in excellent 
 health. 
 
 The food is very good here, and we ,liavc every 
 comfort. The North German Postal Union is 
 delightful ; I can send my letter from the Black 
 Forest to Lubeck for one gr. (one penny), a dis- 
 tance of 150 German miles. 
 
 I cannot get Marie away from her book about 
 horse-breeding, therefore I can only send her 
 love to you and Fritz to-day. 
 
 Most affectionately, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, December 10th,; 1868. 
 Bear Guste, 
 
 Marie has fallen seriously ill ; it seems to be
 
 62 Selections from Letters 
 
 rlieumatic fever. It began with very violent pains 
 in her right foot, then in her left, and now it has 
 seized the whole of the left side, so that she can 
 only move her right arm. The excessive pain has 
 decreased, but she is not able to move without 
 assistance. 
 
 The illness is a dangerous one, and Mr. Pesch 
 tells us it ^vill last six weeks. God grant that the 
 next, the most dangerous days, may be safely 
 passed. ]\Iarie has had some sleep with the help 
 of morphia. 
 
 I have put off our Christmas guests, engaged a 
 nurse, and of course, everything that can possibly 
 relieve poor Marie's pains will be done. 
 
 It would be a great comfort, dear Guste, to have 
 you here, but I can scarcely expect you to come. 
 
 I shall write again as soon as a change for the 
 better or the worse occurs. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 P.S. It seems to me as if Marie were better to- 
 day. A mustard-plaster seems to give her relief. 
 She has a little appetite, and the fever is not so 
 high. Three o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 1
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 63 
 
 Berlin, January 4tli, 1869. 
 7.30 a.m. 
 
 Deaii Guste, 
 
 I am very vexed with my second aide-de- 
 camp for not having called me. I -\vokc up early, 
 but when I hud lit my candle, I saw that it 
 was only half-past three o'clock ; I lay down 
 again, half dressed, and did not wake up till I 
 heard the carriage drive through the gateway. 
 I should have liked so much to tell you again, 
 how thankful I am for your devotion and self- 
 sacrifice in nursing my poor ]\Iarie, and what 
 a comfort you were to me, during the first sad 
 days after her death. Such kindness is only to 
 be repaid by gratitude and love, but misfortune 
 must soften the hard crust of human hearts to 
 brinf]: them closer to2^ether. And how much kind 
 sympathy 1 have received from all my other 
 relations ; may God reward you all. 
 
 It is a great comfort to me that Henry is 
 cominiT, nothinir could be more welcome to me, 
 and I will. write to-day to thank the good King for 
 his delicate attentions. I should not like to 
 detain dear Jeannette here more than a few days
 
 64 Selections from Letters 
 
 longer. She "will be miicli missed at Segeberg, 
 and "witli Henry lierc I sliall get on. 
 
 I clierisli the hope that we shall all spend the 
 summer together quietly where we still have to 
 lay our dear departed for her last rest. I liojDe 
 to receive the plan for the chapel to-day, and shall 
 then give orders for its building at once. 
 
 With best love and deep gratitude, 
 
 Your brother, 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Meaux, September 16th, 1870. 
 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 My best greetings and hearty congratula- 
 tions for your birthday ; want of time prevents 
 me from collecting my thoughts enough to Avrite 
 a long letter. My mind is continually dwelling 
 on our one aim, and in spite of aU our success 
 I am weighed down by the cares of one day after 
 another. The responsibility is too great, and the 
 continual strain most trying. 
 
 Your letters and Fritz's, which I receive from 
 time to time from our quiet home, are very 
 refreshing, but you also are too nearly concerned
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 65 
 
 to be able to enjoy it. Up to now God has 
 graciously protected our people in the midst of 
 dreadful losses and deaths. I feel rather ex- 
 hausted, but I am fortunate in sleeping soundly, 
 which always refreshes me again. 
 
 We have fine weather at last, but only nine or ten 
 R. deirrees of warmth, and without a fire the north 
 rooms in the Palace of the Bishop of Meaux would 
 be unbearable. I suppose it is not any warmer 
 with you. If we had but come to the end of 
 this. I hope for an early peace before the 
 renewal of this blood-shedding. The boasting of 
 the Paris authorities only shows their weakness. 
 Much must be soon decided. 
 
 "With heartiest greetings, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Versailles, December 20th, 1870. 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 As this time of the year comes round and I 
 remember our beloved ]\Iarie's sulFerings, I often 
 think with true thankfulness of the self-sacrificing 
 care that you lavished upon her. I think it was 
 
 p
 
 66 Selections from Letters 
 
 on this very day, two years ago, after having 
 watched with her the whole night, that you called 
 me in the morning with the joyful news that Marie 
 was sleeping quietly. But our reviving hopes 
 were not to be fulfilled. God had willed other- 
 wise, and so it will be best. He has taken her to 
 Himself in the prime of life, strength, and beauty, 
 and spared her all the hardships of old age. It is 
 a great comfort to me that all your letters, for 
 which I thank you heartily, show that you are 
 resigned. I have to ask her forgiveness for many 
 things, but I do not doubt she will grant it, nor that 
 she will greet me in another life, when these suf- 
 ferings are ended, as she did at the station when I 
 returned from the campaign in 1866 ; and I often 
 long for this time. 
 
 But my great wish is first to see the great work 
 finished in which I am called to help. And before 
 this can be, we shall have to fight great battles, 
 and difficulties which have to be overcome, sur- 
 round us on all sides. But the Lord who has 
 helped us so far, will continue His help. 
 
 I must send you my best wishes for Christmas, 
 although for us it will always be connected with a
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 67 
 
 time of sadness. The Lord took Marie to Himself 
 on the day Avhen salvation was brought to mankind. 
 I thank Fritz for the welcome present of a foot- 
 bag, which is a bivouac in itself. I have nothing 
 better to send from here than a case of champagne, 
 this I do, however, requesting you to empty it. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Mlilhausen, August 17th, 1872. 
 At Munich we saw the opera, " The Huguenots," 
 which was very well given, but we went home 
 before the last act, as I had to leave the following 
 morning at six o'clock. At Kempten we found the 
 whole town assembled at the station, as the Crown 
 Prince had just arrived from Hohenschwangan. 
 He introduced me to a short gentleman in undress, 
 who was no one else than — the King of Xaples, 
 an exiled monarch, whose deposition was caused 
 indirectly by the victories of the German Army 
 over Austria and France. He had now to witness 
 an ovation to a German general, which he did with 
 great dignity. I too received some of the " hurrahs." 
 At Linden, immense enthusiasm, girls clad in white, 
 
 F 2
 
 6S Selections from Letters 
 
 flowers, &c. Here the Crown Prince was received 
 by the Grand Duke of Baden, who insisted upon 
 my coming to the Mainau. The crossing to the 
 charmins: island on the lake of Constance in beau- 
 tiful weather was delightful, and our stay there 
 was made most agreeable by the happy family life 
 of the excellent Grand Duchess and her children. 
 Her Majesty the Empress was there, and very 
 gracious. The following morning, after a family 
 breakfast, the Grand Duke sent me by carriage to 
 Constance, whence I travelled by rail through the 
 lovely country close to the Falls of the Rhine at 
 SchafFliausen by Basle to Miilhausen. 
 
 Innspruck, October 16th, 1875. 
 With Paul Groterjahn I say very contentedly, 
 "Now we are here," i.e. at a tolerably good hotel 
 in a room mth a fire. It rained continually all 
 the way from Berlin, and was so cold that I 
 could not sleep during the night. This train, the 
 express to Munich, is altered during the winter 
 months ; it begins about midnight to slacken 
 speed, and instead of reaching our destination at
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 69 
 
 G a.m., wc did not amve till 1 1 a.m. I at once 
 went to see Professor Lcnbacli who has three un- 
 finished portraits of me ; the best, when finished, 
 he will send to the Berlin exhibition. In the 
 evening I went to the theatre with de Claer. We 
 saw the " Fledermaus," a scandalous French comic 
 opera, clumsily played by German actors. 
 
 We continued our journey at nine o'clock to-day ; 
 the rain resumed its business. At the station we 
 met Steiniicker, Winterfeldt, and Lindequist of 
 the Emperor's suite, and wc travelled in the same 
 carnage. The Secretary of State, v. Billow, and 
 Count Bismarck were also in the train. Prince 
 Bismarck is not coming. We could see but little 
 of the charming country, only now and then the 
 clouds parted and allowed us a glimpse of the 
 moimtains freshly powdered over with snow. 
 Kufstein, the Austrian fortress on the Bavarian 
 side, is beautifully situated. Two mountain-forts 
 with mighty towers and numerous loopholes com- 
 mand the narrow valley of the Inn. At present 
 they are principally used for State prisoners, who 
 can enjoy this beautiful country. 
 
 As the weather is so bad we shall not do much
 
 70 Selections from Letters 
 
 more tliaa visit the cathedral. In the middle of the 
 nave stands the monument of the Emperor Maxi- 
 milian L, the last of the knights ; on either side are 
 eight- and- twenty gigantic bronze statues, most of 
 them ancestors of the Emperor. The statue of 
 King Arthur must be by Peter Vischer. This is 
 a figure with such life and reality that one might 
 imagine him walking about during the night 
 amidst his iron neighbours. 
 
 Milan, October 20th. 
 On the 17th, the Emperor arrived at Innspruck, 
 where he was received with every mark of honour, 
 but the immense crowd observed a deep silence, 
 and this was the case throughout the Avhole of the 
 German Tyrol. The weather became clearer the 
 farther south we went. The journey over the 
 Brenner is very picturesque. In an ascent of 
 40 : 1 the railway makes such numerous and sharp 
 curves that one sees the country all round as well 
 as if one were driving. There is generally a great 
 abyss on one side. At the top of the pass I re- 
 membered the inn with a broad roof, one gutter
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 71 
 
 of wliich drains into the Black Sea, the other into 
 the Adriatic. From this point the descent is so 
 ■winding that some of the gentlemen reached the 
 next station quicker on foot than we by train. Now 
 the vegetation begins to show a southern character, 
 first walnut-trees and vines, at Botzen fig-trees 
 and cypresses. At Trent we dined at 7 p.m. ; by 
 moonlight we saw the well-laid-out streets, and 
 the fortress-like Bishop's palace, where 300 years 
 ago the Council of Trent was held, whose settle- 
 ments the infallible pope will no longer recognize. 
 The inn where I stayed must have been an old 
 palace. The lofty hall, where the badly smelling 
 stove gave no Avarmth, may have been occupied in 
 former times by a high ecclesiastical dignitary. 
 
 AVe continued our journey on the 18th in bright 
 sunshine. Passing the remarkable hermitage of 
 Verona, we entered the plain of Lombardy. The 
 whole garrison of Verona had marched out and 
 paraded, and the forts saluted. If the people 
 in the North Tyrol received us in silence, those 
 in the South, on tlie contrary, were loud in 
 their acclamations, which became even heartier 
 when we entered Italy. We had a beautiful view
 
 72 Selections from Letters 
 
 of Lake Garcia surrounded by snow-covered 
 mountains, then the scenery became somewhat 
 monotonous, fertile fiekls covered with mulberry- 
 trees and vineyards and watered by canals, where 
 the vine is trained in festoons. 
 
 From early morning we were en grande tenue 
 with orders and ribands. At Bergamo we made 
 our dejeuner, and at Milan the King met our 
 Emperor at the station. In a long procession of 
 more than twenty carriages we drove slowly 
 through the beautiful streets, accompanied by the 
 endless shouting of the dense crowd. The first 
 presentations were followed by the banquet and 
 the illumination of the cathedral with white, green 
 and red lights. On the Palazzo Beale, adjoining 
 the cathedral square, stood about 200,000 people 
 closely packed ; perfect order and quiet prevailed. 
 No force of police could succeed like that in our 
 country. Notwithstanding the population of 
 Milan is very independent ; nobody could force 
 them to be enthusiastic 5 but the hurrahs were 
 endless when the Emperor and the King stepped 
 out on to the balcony. The well-known cathedral, 
 built entirely of white marble, ornamented with
 
 To His Sister Auguste. j^) 
 
 more than a thousand statuettes, with innumerable 
 spires and notches, is very impressive, and when 
 lit up, quite fairy-like. Late at night de Claer and 
 I, and General Taverna, who is in attendance on 
 me, went (but incognito and in undress) through 
 the magnificent gallery, which was illuminated by 
 thousands of gas flames. Bands were playing on 
 the squares, and the immense crowd went about 
 quietly in perfect order without needing any 
 control by the state " carabinieri." Such conduct 
 is the fruit of ancient culture, perhaps only 
 possessed by the Northern Italian. The unavoid- 
 able parade took place on the 19th. The battalions, 
 formed in two ranks, numbered not more than 
 three himdred and fifty men, who looked in good 
 order and well disciplined. They defiled with eyes 
 left, to enable the princesses and ladies to have a 
 full view from a loggia. It was an impressive 
 picture on the immense square near the old 
 citadel. 
 
 I had caught a severe cold on the journey to 
 Munich, became feverish and went to bed. 
 Steinacker sent me some homoeopathic drops. I 
 only got up to attend the gala-dinner in the even-
 
 74 Selections from Letters 
 
 ins: at seven o'clock. I had not been able to toucli 
 anything the day before, and after ten minutes in 
 the Scala I had to drive home and lie down. The 
 immense house, magnificently lit up, was an 
 imposing sight. The boxes were let for as much as 
 800 francs, and in the first six rows everybody 
 wore evening dress and white ties. Of course the 
 Emperor was welcomed most enthusiastically. I 
 have pretty well cured myself with sleep and 
 starvation. But unfortunately a sirocco is blow- 
 ing, and it rains continually. We drove to 
 Monza, but the hunt did not come ofi^. Even the 
 beautiful park could only be seen from the castle. 
 But I went on to the quaint old cathedral, where 
 many treasures were sho^\Ti to us ; amongst others 
 the iron croT\Ti with which forty-five Emperors 
 have been crowned ; the Emperor Francis being 
 the last. Hidden by gold and jewels is an iron 
 circle, made of the nails which fastened Jesus to 
 the Cross. 
 
 October 21st. After cofi'ee at 8 a.m., one does 
 not feel very much inclined at 10 a.m. for a dejeuner, 
 which is really a dinner. But after this had been 
 endured and their Majesties had left for Monza,
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 75 
 
 ■\ve had time to sec Milan, beginning with the 
 cathedral. Inside, through the soft subdued light, 
 far away in the background, is seen a mighty 
 golden cross. The full size of the cathedral does 
 not appear at first. Its enormous length can only 
 be realized from the steps of the high altar, under- 
 neath which lie the remains of the canonized 
 Charles Borromeo. The vaulted ceiling, two 
 hundred feet high, is beautifully painted, and has 
 the effect of lace- work. When you have ascended 
 an endless staircase and are out on the marble roof, 
 a whole forest of tall spires and richly carved 
 arches can be seen. On each little spire are a dozen 
 saints ; there are said to be seven thousand figures, 
 but I have not counted them ; each one is a work 
 of art. A few more hundred steps bring you to 
 the slender spire, and from here at a height of four 
 hundred feet, all Milan can be overlooked ; unfortu- 
 nately, in spite of sunshine, the fog hid the Alpine 
 chain, which is generally visible, x^ftcr we had 
 descended, luckily without any accident, we drove 
 to St. Ambrogio, the oldest church of the city, 
 unchanged and preserved in the pure Romanesque 
 style of the fourth century. Count Taverna
 
 76 Selections from Letters 
 
 showed us a well-preserved fresco portrait of his 
 ancestor with the inscription of his name. The 
 serpent of the Garden of Eden, the cause of all 
 our misery, can be seen here (in iron). Mass 
 books from the third century were shown to us ; 
 also the crypt which was the refuge of the early 
 Christians, and numerous objects of beautiful 
 workmanship set with jewels. The gilt mosaics of 
 the apse remind one of those of St. Mark's at 
 Venice. 
 
 In one of the liveliest streets between the shops 
 and eating-houses a long row of pillars, the remains 
 of a temple of Minerva, have a very strange effect. 
 At the Brera we only saw the principal master- 
 pieces, above all the Sposalizio, by Raphael. 
 Among modem works, the portraits of Manzoni 
 and Cavour were interesting. In the afternoon I 
 had pleasant visits from General Cialdini, and 
 the Prime Minister, Minghetti. 
 
 In the room which I occupy the Consul Napo- 
 leon Buonaparte once stayed ; the gilt bed is still 
 ornamented with the French eagles ; the little room 
 adjoining, where Henry sleeps, was probably that 
 of his mameluke.
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 'j'j 
 
 October 22nd. Last night there was a state 
 ball ; the enormous hall was lit up by several 
 thousands of candles, and was densely crowded, 
 when the Court and suite entered. Chairs, behind 
 which the gentlemen stood, were placed for all the 
 ladies in a large circle, so as to leave the centre 
 free for the dancers. A linen drugget was spread 
 on the floor, as it is not the fashion to have 
 parqueted floors here. This circumstance and 
 the trains of the ladies' dresses must render 
 dancing very diflicult ; the Prussian gentlemen 
 were the best dancers. It was impossible to 
 move about, and at midnight I was glad to 
 withdraw. 
 
 This morning King Victor Emmanuel sent his 
 minister, commissioned to present me with a 
 marble bust of His Majesty, larger than life-size. 
 The king received me immediately afterwards, in 
 undress and without ceremony. After a long and 
 very friendly conversation, he said : " Embrassez- 
 moi " and kissed me with his long moustache on 
 both cheeks. 
 
 Our journey home is fixed for to-morrow ; at 
 Botzen we shall stay a night, but then we hope
 
 78 Selections from Letters 
 
 to arrive at Berlin in the afternoon of Monday, the 
 25th, without any farther delay, 
 
 Your brother 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Rome, April 6th, 1876. 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 While Henry is ascending the dome of St. 
 Peter's, I can tell you something of our stay here 
 instead of his doing so. We could not possibly 
 have been received more amiably and courteously. 
 We occupy a suite of rooms in Palace CafFarelli, 
 provided with every possible luxury and comfort. 
 On the writing-table before me stands Marie's 
 photograph amidst roses and azaleas. On the left 
 through the open door leading on to the balcony, 
 through which the sun shines in brightly, the 
 eye rests upon a garden of laurels, pine-trees, 
 palms, and flowers ; and farther away to the Pala- 
 tine are seen the mighty ruins of Augustus' palace 
 as large as the entire original Rome, behind which 
 rise the Albanian mountains, with their wooded 
 slopes, and the palaces and villas of Frascati and 
 Grotta Ferrata.
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 79 
 
 Palace CafFarelli stand^j, as you may know, on 
 the Capitoline hill, crowned in olden days by the 
 Arx or Citadel, the taking of which Avas averted 
 by the cackling of the geese. From the windows 
 on the north side modem Rome is to be seen with 
 its numerous churches and cupolas, palaces and 
 spires as far as the mighty buildings of the Vatican, 
 St. Angelo and St. Peter's. But from the 
 south side are seen the Forum Romanum, the 
 Colosseum, the triimiphal Arches of Constantine, 
 Trajan and Titus, the baths of Nero and Caracalla, 
 the campagna with the arches of the aqueducts 
 continuing for miles, in short, the whole past of 
 the Eternal City. 
 
 Her future strength seems to be sought at the 
 Quirinal ; for while the Papacy tamely ends its 
 tenacious life in voluntary exile, the capital of a 
 richly gifted united people will become a new city 
 with modem streets, gigantic ministerial buildings 
 and barracks. These modern cloisters, with the 
 rules and habits of their orders, their temporary 
 celibacy and vows, are no hermitages. And the 
 ancient Aurelian wall, 1500 years old, encloses even 
 to-day all these contrasts, commencing with the
 
 8o Selections from Letters 
 
 po^er of the ImperatorSj the constancy of the 
 Martyrs, the victory and the secularization of 
 the Papacy, and finally the moral idea of the 
 State. In other cities present times have wiped 
 away the past, here we find them both together. 
 
 King Victor Emmanuel is staying at present 
 at a country-house not far from Florence, but the 
 Crown Prince has granted me an audience for 
 to-day in the Quirinal. On the afternoon of our 
 arrival we met the Princess, as we drove to the 
 Milvian Bridge. She was walking, and knew us at 
 once, and it was impossible to remain incognito any 
 longer ; the Minister of War has ordered Count 
 Tavema to be my attache, as he was at Milan. We 
 hope that Herr von Keudell will return here from 
 Berlin next Sunday. Meanwhile, his wife pro- 
 vides us with everything necessary and agreeable ; 
 she is very attentive and kind to us. 
 
 Hoping that you may derive much benefit from 
 Marienbad, 
 
 I remain, 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 8i 
 
 Rome, April 19tli, 1870. 
 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 Your letter of the 12th brought mc very 
 welcome news from home, and I send you my 
 best thanks. I think of leaving for Naples (where 
 I hope it will be warmer) on Friday or at the 
 latest Saturday. We should not like to take too 
 much advantage of the kindness of the dear 
 Keudells. Nobody could be treated better than 
 we have been this last fortnight. We have pro- 
 mised to be present to-moiTow at a festival of the 
 German artists here. And after that will be the 
 best time to end our stay. 
 
 Bulwer's " Last Days of Pompeii " will interest 
 me much, when we have seen, which I hope "will 
 be soon, the new excavations and the offender 
 Vesuvius. The great museum. Mother Earth, has 
 carefully preserved in her bosom a whole town as 
 it disappeared, in one day, eighteen hundred years 
 ago, in the midst of life. The past has here been 
 discovered in flagranti, and has been brought to 
 light again. 
 
 Of my ^lilanese friends, I have met Menabrea, 
 Cialdini and Bertole Viale again. I have also made
 
 82 Selections from Letters 
 
 the acquaintance of the new ministers Depretis and 
 Mezzacapo, who were all invited to dejeuner at the 
 Keudells'. 
 
 The sun shines warm and bright through the 
 windows, the freshest green covers the wide cam- 
 pagna as far as the eye reaches. There are the 
 ruins of a past world, high arches of endless aque- 
 ducts and numerous monuments, which served as 
 fortresses in the middle ages, and as swallows 
 build, so the paltry life of the present has reared 
 its huts under the protection of these mighty 
 remains. 
 
 Under our balcony is a whole forest of azaleas 
 in blossom ; round the fountain "Die Myrthe still 
 und hoch der Lorbeer steht," a palm planted by 
 Frederick William IV., looks rather melancholy in 
 the wind, and a white and red climbing rose 
 covers everything with thousands of blossoms. It 
 calls me into the open air, and so I conclude with 
 a hearty greeting. 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 To His Sister Auguste. S3 
 
 Naples, May 2nd, 187G. 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 I "will try if I can write a few lines to you 
 with one of these dreadful steel-pens,^ before our 
 departure, fixed for to-morrow. Henry has climbed 
 up to the convent of S. Martino, which I could 
 not undertake to do on account of my asthma. 
 My greatest pleasure has been to cross the bay by 
 steamer. When ^ve went to Capri the sea was 
 rather rough, and some ladies made their sacri- 
 fice to Neptune ; and under the steep rocky coast 
 the deep-blue sea threw up its snow-white surge. 
 The ship anchored and a number of little boats 
 rocked about us to take us to the blue Grotto. 
 This seemed impossible to me, for I saw distinctly 
 the big ■Waves beating against the upper j^^i't of 
 the entrance, which was onlv three or four feet 
 above the level of the sea in calm water. How- 
 ever, it was to be attempted. We lay down flat 
 at the bottom of the nut-shell, and the practised 
 rowers seized the moment between one wave and 
 another. " Coraggio per vol, Maccaroni per noi ! " 
 they cried out and — clash — we had passed the 
 
 ^ Moltke alwa^-s used quills. 
 G 2
 
 84 Selections from Letters 
 
 opening of the cavern, but not without my hat 
 being turned into a " chapeau claque." 
 
 The very narrow entrance prevents the light 
 entering the high spacious vault, Avhich is about a 
 hundred paces deep ; this rocky cavern is lit up 
 by the reflection of the sun-beams from the 
 crystal light blue sea, and the effect is enchant- 
 ing. But the idea of having to return again, pre- 
 vented me from enjoying the sight in comfort. 
 The foaming billows dashed in, barring the way ; 
 sometimes travellers have waited here two days 
 for a cahn sea. But by the dexterity of the boat- 
 men, in waiting for the right moment, we soon 
 found ourselves outside again, but were so wet 
 that we could shake the water from our clothes. 
 Very few of the passengers undertook this visit. 
 
 It is very trying for me, after going doAvn to 
 the beautiful walk near Villa Eeale, on the sea- 
 shore, to go up again one hundred and sixty steps 
 to my house. But the wonderful vievf over 
 the shore is an ample reward for the trouble. 
 Each "window has a marble balcony. On our left 
 we see on a height, the sombre castle of St. Elmo, 
 with its gloomy walls and battlements, just oppo-
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 85 
 
 site us we have Vesu^•ius, which towers high above 
 the many flat roofs and cupolas of the city ; just 
 now only a white cloud of smoke is to be seen, 
 nothing remarkable. To the right the eye sweeps 
 over the bay as far as Castellamare and Sorrento, 
 where, in spite of the distance of three German 
 miles, single houses can be distinguished in a 
 clear atmosphere. Vesuvius is as quiet as if it had 
 never devastated whole toAvns and districts ; we, 
 therefore, did not favour it with a visit, but only 
 looked from the foot at the black ashy cone. 
 One of the most beautiful things, I can imagine, 
 is the road that leads from Castellamare alono- hiorh 
 rocky walls to the charming Sorrento. Deep 
 ra\dnes cut perpendicularly into the white tuffa, 
 and are crossed by viaducts ; far beneath lies 
 the blue sea fringed by the silvery surf which 
 dashes against most marvellous blocks of rock. 
 The mountains, almost to their summits, are 
 covered with olive trees; convents, and country 
 houses peep out ; Avhile the houses on the roadside 
 are hidden by orange bushes, which just now are 
 in full bloom, but still bear a great number of 
 their golden fruit. Stepping out of their shade
 
 86 Selections prom Letters 
 
 you suddenly find yourself on a platform of one 
 
 of the many good inns ; before you is a precipice a 
 
 hundred feet straight down to the glistening sea, 
 
 to which underground paths lead down. 
 
 I think that we shall stay at Lucerne on our 
 
 way home and take a few days' rest there. We 
 
 should be glad to receive news from you there ; tell 
 
 us also what kind of weather you have, and about 
 
 the crops. It Avould be a pity to miss the time of 
 
 blossom at Creisau. Friendly greetings also for 
 
 my faithful de Claer. 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Stettin, Sept. 23rd, 1879. 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 We have just returned from the great re- 
 view of the Second Army-Corps. Everything 
 went off excellently. The weather yesterday, cold 
 and wet, has turned into most beautiful sunshine, 
 no dust and a pleasant, fresh air. I was in trouble 
 about my great brown horse, which was so badly 
 trained, that I could not use him in such a 
 crowd. I therefore borrowed Henry's chestnut, 
 which performed his part excellently. The thing
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 87 
 
 is, amidst the noise of drums and bands and the 
 waving of flags, to ride past His ]\Iajesty at a slow 
 pace, then immediately to ride at full gallop to his 
 side, which is not so easy as it looks, if the horse 
 has not been trained for it.^ The bearing of 
 the troops Avas excellent ; the Emperor was 
 much pleased. As at Konigsberg and Dant- 
 zic we have good quarters here, beautifid large 
 rooms in an old patrician house on the Rossmarkt, 
 excellent beds, with more to eat and drink than is 
 good for us. The daily dinner with the King is 
 every time a trial of self-denial for me ; one dinner 
 now and then I might be able to digest, but when it 
 comes to twenty-one, one after another, I have to 
 be very careful, especially with the many different 
 kinds of wine. The festivities which follow one 
 after another are much more exhausting than the 
 mancEUvres. On Sunday a man-of-Avar will be 
 launched, and then there will be a gala-dinner. 
 With much love. 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 * Moltke had to parade liis regiment, tlic Colberg Grenadiers, 
 before His Majesty,
 
 88 Selections from Letters 
 
 Schlettstadt, Oct. 3rd, 1879. 
 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 I received the last news from you at Stettin. 
 Since then the manoeuvi'es at Strassburg and the 
 Emperor's journey have come to an end. At first I 
 was very doubtful if I could go through with every- 
 thing. But, God be thanked, all went well, though 
 only with the utmost exertion, and I hope it will 
 have been for the last time. Noav I can spare my- 
 self a little more, but I wish and long to pass the 
 short time that is left to me in quiet, and to be 
 allowed to retire into modest solitude. The future, 
 and not, perhaps, a very distant one, may bring 
 circumstances with which I feel no longer able to 
 grapple. 
 
 I think Henry will have told you of our excur- 
 sions to the Vosges Mountains. We had a cloudy 
 day, but it cleared up towards evening, and we 
 could see from the highest wooded point the 
 valleys with their villages and many old castles on 
 the mountain tops. The high-roads are so skil- 
 fully constructed with many windings along the 
 mountain slopes, that one can drive do^vn at a 
 sharp trot without using the drag. If the sun
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 89 
 
 would only shine we should make some more ex- 
 cui'sions of the kind which can be combined with 
 our duties. Best love. 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Gastein, August 15th, 1880. 
 
 DexVr Guste, 
 
 The sad news in the papers of floods and 
 destructions may have made you anxious about 
 us. We arrived here at noon, though not without 
 some trouble, yet well and sound. It is a good 
 thuig that we did not go to the Tatra mountains, 
 for just in that direction the destruction has been 
 greatest. 
 
 The first day of our journey passed without 
 much disturbance. As Hotel Wunsch had been 
 specially recommended to vis, we stayed there, and 
 it was a strange coincidence that not only did I 
 occupy the same hotel, but also the same room 
 where I had been ill with fever for six weeks forty 
 years ago, on my return from Turkey. The follow- 
 ing day we spent in going about Vienna, and we got
 
 90 Selections from Letters 
 
 through a great deal. On Thursday we drove, in 
 torrents of rain, through a delightful country to 
 the beautiful Lake Traun. Hoping to be able to 
 cross this charming lake on the following day, we 
 passed the night at Gmunden, in the excellent new 
 Hotel Austria, but the next morning it was still 
 raining and the Traunstein was wrapt in clouds. 
 However, in spite of that, the passage was beautiful. 
 But when we had landed at Ebensee, we were 
 received with the disagreeable news that the Trauh 
 had interrupted all further communication ; that 
 the railway was destroyed, and the high-roads 
 flooded several feet deep. But we succeeded in 
 obtaining a carriage for a good deal of money, 
 and drove to our destination. The Mayor of the 
 place took a seat on the box and — God knows 
 what made him do so — waded in the worst places 
 before us up to his waist. A poor lad was taken 
 with us, who had to walk, where the road seemed 
 dangerous, before the horses. So we arrived at. 
 Ischl, but no train could leave there, and we stayed 
 the night. The whole platform was under water, 
 and the stream presented an interesting sight. 
 Debris of bridges swam past with tremendous
 
 To His Sister Auguste. 91 
 
 rapidity. In the evening there was a concert in 
 the casino, where we heard the comforting news 
 that an express would try to leave on the following 
 AVednesday. Fortunately it was true. Next 
 morning we were very glad to see the sun again ; 
 we took a lovely walk, and left at noon. The 
 saloon carriage which Ave occupied was open and 
 the last one on the train, so that we could look 
 over the whole country. It was the most 
 beautiful journey that one can imagine ; passing 
 by the Halstiitter lake, then ascending between 
 lofty mountains by the foaming Traun, after 
 that, rapidly descending into the valley of the 
 Enns. Again floods and rain ; and then a descent 
 of more than a thousand feet into the valley of the 
 Salzach. Night quarters at Lend, which were as 
 bad as they were dear. This morning we passed 
 the Klamm on foot, and then waited for the dili- 
 gence, which brought us here safe and sound at 
 half-past one o'clock. For old acquaintance's sake 
 I took a little room at Hotel Straubinger. Tlie 
 day after to-morrow I go into good apartments on 
 the gTound floor. AVe have already looked about 
 a good deal, taken tea, and played at patience to
 
 92 Selections from Letters, Etc. 
 
 see if the weather was gomg to turn fine ; they all 
 came right ; nevertheless it is raining still. 
 "With best love to all, your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Creisau, July 30th, 1881. 
 Dear Guste, 
 
 I did not find any letter from you awaiting 
 me yesterday on my return home. However, I 
 hope that you are getting on well at Heligoland. 
 The Tatra mountains are very interesting, but 
 there is no comfort, either in food or lodging. 
 We had to be content with one little room, and we 
 were fortunate to get even that. Young Prince 
 Leopold, who anived with Colonel Geissler and 
 his physician, was also quartered in a gaiTet. Of 
 course, I did not climb the high mountains, but 
 was content •vvith some excursions in the vaUeys. 
 The journey by train through a beautiful country 
 was lovely. Here everything is in good order. 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 MAGDALENE VON MOLTKE, WIFE OF PROVOST BROKEE. 
 
 SELECTIONS PROM LETTERS TO HIS 
 SISTER MAGDALENE. 
 
 Magdalene von Moltke, "by her family always called Lene, 
 the sixth child and the eldest daughter of her parents, was 
 born on September 29th, 1807, at Augustenhof in Holstein. 
 She lived devoted to her beloved mother until the death of the 
 latter. "When her mother's household was thus broken up, 
 she went to live "sHth her father, then Governor at Kiel, and 
 remained his faithful companion till, in 1838, she was married 
 to a clergyman, Mr. Broker, the principal preacher at the 
 Klosterkirche at Uetersen. This happy marriage was ended on 
 June 12th, 1890, by the death of her husband. Lena's 
 acquaintances were not many, but those who knew her, loved
 
 94 Selections from Letters 
 
 and esteemed her on account of her mental gifts, her bright- 
 ness, her self-denial, noble truthfulness, and deep Christian 
 humility. Her brother Helmuth was her pride ; she, however, 
 never boasted of him. His indefatigable love and care made 
 her life and those of her family happy even after his death. 
 Frau Broker died on January 3rd, 1892. 
 
 Berlin, December 9tli, 1866. 
 Dear Broker, 
 
 . . . You are right in saying that God's 
 grace has been visibly with us during the great 
 decisive events of last year. More than ever I have 
 learned to understand how God " is strong in the 
 weak." May the many things which still remain 
 to be done, succeed under His gracious guidance. 
 
 My wife sends her very best love to you and 
 her Aunt Lene. I hope we shall soon come to 
 Holstein again, and then it will be to the annexed 
 country. Till then we wish to be kindly remem- 
 bered. Most aifectionately yours, 
 
 Helmuth v. Moltke. 
 
 Wildbad, October, 12th, 1868. 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 ... I hope that the treatment here which 
 will come to an end in a few days, will strengthen
 
 To His Sister Magdalene. 95 
 
 me for all that next spring may bring. Our old 
 King may have a hard trial before him ; however, 
 it is to be hoped that sound common sense "will 
 conquer the pride of our neighbours. 
 
 We must leave it to God Almighty. 
 
 I am very glad that the King has been so much 
 liked in the Duchies. The secret of his pleasant- 
 ness is his honest, open character. . . . My visit 
 here is very late this year. . . . The country is 
 very pretty, but, like the whole of the Black 
 Forest, there is too much sameness. Beautiful 
 green valleys watered by the rushing Enz, closed 
 in by mountains ■^^'hich are covered with forests of 
 hiirh, thick! dark firs. The baths are delicious. 
 Numerous warm springs bubble out from the 
 floor of the basin at a temperature of twenty-seven 
 deojrees R. The cookinfj^ here is excellent ; one 
 could not dine better in Paris ; trout from the 
 stream, turbotsi from j\larseilles, artichokes from 
 Algiers. Railway communication makes every- 
 thing easy. 
 
 We mean to leave to-mon'ow, first for the 
 Palatinate. . . . 
 
 Marie joins mc in best love to you. 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 96 Selections from Letters 
 
 Berlin, December 18th, 1875. 
 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 . . . May your health improve again, and 
 may you have a happy old age free from care. 
 "When one reaches an age such as we, who are left, 
 have attained, one can bear many little physical 
 sufferings patiently, if God only gives us peace 
 in ourselves. 
 
 All of us wish you and Broker and all your 
 family a happy Christmas. After to-morrow the 
 days will begin to lengthen again, and God will 
 give us a new spring which I look upon every 
 time as a special blessing. I hope we may see you 
 next year at Creisau, where I enjoy life more than 
 anywhere else. Though farming is not very profit- 
 able, I rejoice in the growth of the trees that I 
 have planted, and under the shade of which the 
 young generation will think of me when I have 
 found a home of peace in the chapel there, which 
 time cannot be very far off. 
 
 With heartiest love, your brother, 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 To His Sister Magdalene. 97 
 
 Berlin, September 18th, 1876. 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 Uncle Lud\vig and the four giants ^ will go 
 on the 2nd of next month to Parchim to be present 
 at the unveiling of my monument. Ludwig will 
 have to give an address, and the four giants, I 
 suppose, will be posted at the four corners of the 
 pedestal. I shall, on the same day, be at Strassburg 
 at the unveiling of a monument in memory of the 
 fallen warriors, at which the Emperor has promised 
 to be present. After that I hope to return to 
 Creisau and to spend the month of October there. 
 God bless you. Your faithful brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Creisau, June 30th, 1878. 
 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 ... I am sorry to say that I shall have to leave 
 the country in August or September, as I shall 
 have to attend the Reichstag, where we are going 
 to attack the democrats. 
 
 ^ Thus the Field- Marshal liked to call the sons of his brother 
 Adolf.
 
 98 Selections from Letters 
 
 The recovery of the Emperor is steady, but 
 slow, and it is still very doubtful if he will be 
 able to be present at the coming manoeuvres on the 
 Rhine. It is not a little thing to receive thirty-one 
 shots at the age of eighty-one. The responsibili- 
 ties of a ruler already weigh upon the Crown 
 Prince. The attempt upon the Emperor and the 
 loss of the Great Elector ^ were two serious mis- 
 fortunes ! . . . 
 
 To-day the first stubbles ! the rape-field is cut, 
 and now the corn-harvest will begin. It pro- 
 mises to be very good, but even the best yields 
 but a poor return. However, the estate improves 
 every year. I intend to build some new work- 
 men's houses this year. 
 
 You would be delighted to see the infants' 
 school ; the day-school too is prospering. Eighty- 
 five little capitalists have savings-bank books, and 
 everyone has some marks in the Provincial Savings' 
 Bank. It is so important to learn to save at an 
 early age, as we know from our own experience. 
 Our new generation has begun life with help, 
 
 * A man-of-war.
 
 To His Sister Magdalene. 99 
 
 which none of us Sisters and Brothers have ever 
 known. 
 
 And now farewell, dear Lene. Your 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, December 24th, 1878. 
 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 May you spend this Christmas in health 
 and contentment. For me these are days of sad 
 remembrance. Just ten years ago Marie fell ill, 
 and was taken away in the prime of life. It is 
 wonderful with what love she is remembered by 
 comparative strangers, such as small artisans or 
 merchants ; her simple, genial manner is never 
 forgotten. Only quite lately somebody spoke to 
 me about her asking me for her photograph. And 
 you too were so fond of her. 
 
 I am well ; I have much to do, and that helps 
 one to forget many a sorrow, and no one is without 
 one. 
 
 You will have seen enough in the papers about 
 the safe return of our Emperor, and the grand 
 festivities on his arrival. Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 H 2
 
 roo Selections from Letters 
 
 Sclilettstadt, October 3rd, 1879. 
 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 I have just received your letter, and am 
 glad that at your age you are so well and strong. 
 Many happy returns of the day ; may you always 
 spend it surrounded by children and grand- 
 children. 
 
 As Schlettstadt may not find a place in your 
 geography, I ^vill tell you that I am south of 
 Strassburg in Alsace, where I have been travelling 
 with thirty officers and fifty horses, since the 
 Imperial ^dsit to this part of the Empire. The 
 country between the Rhine and the Vosges is 
 very fine, beautiful forest-land between lovely 
 emerald meadows, and mountains crowned with 
 ruins of old castles. The towns, and even the 
 villages, are surrounded by walls and provided 
 with splendid churches. Strangely enough, as 
 long as the Emperor travelled here the weather 
 was uninterruptedly fine, and the very day his 
 journey ended, it began to rain, and has since 
 rained every day. 
 
 My journey may last ten or fourteen days 
 longer ; undoubtedly it will be the last of the kind.
 
 To His Sister Magdalene. ioi 
 
 I am now almost eighty years old, and I am no 
 longer strong enough for such work. It is astonish- 
 ing how the Emperor can still do what he does. 
 
 Henry accompanies me on my journey, keeps 
 my accounts and also me in order. Your 
 brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, March 18th, 1881. 
 
 Dear Lene 
 
 What do you think of the dreadful attempt 
 on the Czar of Russia, who has been the greatest 
 benefactor to his country ! It is to be hoped that 
 his successor may take stricter measures against 
 this vile band of Nihilists, and not hush up and 
 pardon every crime as his unfortunate father has 
 done. But he has a heavy task to take up. The 
 people demand free institutions and representation 
 for which they are not ready ; even their deputies 
 can neither read nor write. Oiu' Emperor is 
 deeply shaken and affected by the loss of his nephew, 
 who was attached to him with affectionate love 
 and veneration. With best love, your brother, 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 I02 Selections from Letters 
 
 Berlin, March 30tli, 1883. 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 Ernestine has informed you of the sad news 
 of the passing away of our dear Sister Guste. 
 This evening a service will be held over her 
 remains at Potsdam, and to-morrow night the 
 coffin will be taken to Creisau, where it will be 
 deposited in the little chapel. There will then be 
 left room enough for myself between both of 
 them. She was seventy-four, and only had to 
 struggle with death during a few hours' illness ; 
 that is a great grace of God. . . . 
 
 Most heai*tily, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Creisau, September 8th, 1886. 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 I have passed a beautiful time here, the 
 whole of the summer ; it only passes too quickly. 
 
 .... Wilhelm's Helmuth is a fine boy, plain, 
 with long ears like mine, but sturdy and strong 
 and not easily kept in order by anybody but his 
 father. The other day he did not come in time 
 for dinner in spite of the bell, and only after
 
 To His Sistkr Magdalene. 103 
 
 searching for a long time was ho found near the 
 mill-pond, where he was catching fish with his 
 Sunday hat. The second, Joachim Peter, is a 
 picture of a boy. 
 
 Helmuth's eldest boy, Willy, is still a delicate 
 child, but lively and clever. When the Peile had 
 flooded the fields, he asked where all the water 
 was running to, and when he was told that it 
 went into the sea, he said : " But, papa, does the 
 water know where the sea is ? " With best love. 
 Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, December 19th, 1887. 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 The comfortable-looking Frau Probstin, in 
 the excellent photograph, cannot be in bad health. 
 The picture gives me much pleasure ; I see a very 
 striking likeness to our poor Father, just as I did 
 in our brother Fritz, when he was old. You will 
 find one of the two enclosed portraits, in a more 
 meagre condition. 
 
 I wish you a joyful Christmas with all my heart. 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 I04 Selections from Letters 
 
 Berlin, March 2nd, 1888. 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 The newspapers say all that I could tell 
 you, about the sad time that we have lived through 
 here in Berlin. 
 
 The death of the Emperor WiUiam has called 
 forth the deepest sympathy of the whole world. 
 It lay in the natural course of things, that the 
 aged Monarch must be called away some day. 
 He fell asleep without any struggle. His face had 
 a mild, peaceable expression. 
 
 But truly tragical is the fate of his successor, 
 who stands with one foot on the throne, the other 
 in the grave. He bears his sufferings with a 
 wonderful manliness ; how long or how short this 
 trial will be, God alone knows. In outward 
 appearance he is still the same splendid, strong 
 man. 
 
 The good old Empress Augusta keeps up well 
 by her strength of will, in spite of feebleness and 
 deep grief. 
 
 To-day we have mourning services in all our 
 churches, instead of the birthday festivities, to 
 which we had been accustomed for so many
 
 To His Sister Magdalene. 105 
 
 years. And everything is enveloped in a deep 
 snoAv. The trees bend their branches under the 
 
 weight of it, but the streets are beginning to thaw 
 and are in a dreadful state in spite of the hun- 
 dreds of snow-carts. . . . 
 
 With hearty greeting. Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Creisau, September 3rd, 1889. 
 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 I suppose both of us are thinking with 
 silent, but affectionate sympathy of our poor 
 brother Ludwig. All I have heard of his last 
 days seems comforting. He has passed away peace- 
 fully amid friendly surroundings. 
 
 Rosy will feel her father's loss most deeply ; she 
 has nursed him to the end, with most self-sacrific- 
 ing love. She has promised to come to see us at 
 Creisau, as soon as the most urgent arrangements 
 have been made. Later on she will remain at 
 Ratzeburg in the old home ; Gustchen will also 
 very likely keep her present position with 
 Princess Albrecht.
 
 I06 SEr.ECTIONS FROM LETTERS 
 
 I have just bought a second estate, Werners- 
 dorf, near the Zobten, and have let it to Ludwig 
 Moltke. I think this is the best way of providing 
 for my heirs ; for the conversion of shares, 
 which may be expected in a short time, threatens 
 all capitalists with a loss of a tenth or a fifth of 
 their interest. Land brings little, but it can 
 neither be converted, taken away, nor stolen. 
 Please give my best love to Broker. Your 
 brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, May 1st, 1890. 
 
 Dear Lene, 
 
 The grace of God has allowed us to live 
 through another Spring, a beautiful gift for which 
 we owe special thanks. At present there are only 
 the gooseberry bushes and other little shrubs 
 whose little green leaves open to the light, but 
 every day adds something new and beautiful, and 
 soon the old lime-trees in your garden will unfold 
 their splendour. 
 
 I should much like to go to the country now
 
 To His Sister Magdalene. 107 
 
 when reviving nature is so bccautiful, but the 
 Reichstag will meet soon, and in the present un- 
 pleasant state of things, the presence of every 
 conservative element is much to be desired. 
 Therefore I must stay here. 
 Much love, from your brother, 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 FRIEDRICH JOACHIM VON MOLTKE. 
 
 SELECTIONS FROM LETTERS TO HIS 
 BROTHER FRITZ. 
 
 Fribdrich Joachim vow Moltke, the Field-Marshal's second 
 brother, was bom on the 22nd of May, 1799, on the estate of 
 Horst near Eatzeburg. He received his early education with 
 his elder brother Wilhelm, and his younger brother Helmuth, 
 in the house of Pastor Knickebein at Hohenfelde in Holstein. 
 From 1811 to 1817 he and his brother Helmuth were at the 
 College for Military Cadets, at Copenhagen ; which he left at 
 the age of eighteen, after having successfully passed the last 
 examination. Twenty years later, when a captain, he left the 
 Army to join the Postal Service in Denmark. After losing his 
 wife, Elisabeth Boelte, who had been his faithful companion for
 
 Selections from Letters, Etc. 109 
 
 thirty years, he retired as Postmaster at Flensburg and Danish 
 Chamberlain. With his widowed sister, Auguste Burt, he 
 made his home at Liibeck in 1867. But during the last years 
 of his life he was again brought into close relationship with his 
 brother Helnuith. Fritz Moltke was a thoroughly earnest charac- 
 ter, possessed of great self-denial, strict with himself and ready 
 to devote himself to others. Throughout his life, in all circum- 
 stances, he gained universal esteem by his great industry, his 
 integrity, his sense of duty and his prudence. Brought up 
 with his brother Helmuth in the strict school of the College of 
 Cadets at Copenhagen, he had followed his quiet and laborious 
 path in the Danish service, while the younger brother, led 
 by his star into the old Fatherland, had found in Germany 
 the glory which will always bo associated with his name. Each 
 of the brothers honoured the opinions of the other. Their 
 political interests, which may sometimes have differed, could 
 never alienate them. 
 
 Fritz, therefore, joyfully sacrificed himself, and, giving up his 
 own household, joined his brother in Berlin, when the latter 
 was left alone after the death of his wife in 18G8. Here he 
 became the Field-Marshal's adviser in all family affairs. 
 Together they collected the scattered accounts of their family, 
 and together they rejoiced in the establishment of a new 
 family seat. The Field-Marshal always treated his brother 
 with the greatest consideration, and showed by his manner 
 that he never forgot he was the younger. Politics were not 
 discussed between them. 
 
 "When on the 4th of August, 1874, a quiet death put an end 
 to the sufferings which Fritz von Moltke had borne with great 
 resignation, the Field- Marshal, deeply moved, buried the 
 remains of his brother in the beautifully situated cemetery of 
 Flensburg by the side of his deceased wife.
 
 no Selections from Letters 
 
 Glion, near Montreux, 
 
 November 3rd, 1866. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 I received your letter dated the ISth of 
 last month aU right, and ought to have answered 
 it before this, but you know that one has never 
 less time than when one has nothing to do but to 
 enjoy one's self. We have had a wonderful autumn ; 
 for thirty-seven days we have only once had rain. 
 This enabled me to take sixteen baths during the 
 bef^inning of my stay at Ragatz, and I have derived 
 much benefit from them. 
 
 We then went by Zurich and Fribourg (crossing 
 the marvellous suspension bridge, three hundred 
 feet above a wide valley) to the Lake of Geneva. 
 The country is lovely, descending by train about 
 two thousand feet, through woods and vineyards. 
 After spending a few days at Ouchy, near Lausanne, 
 we came here to Glion about a fortnight ago. We 
 are staying at a " pension " which bears the name 
 of " the Waadtlandische Rigi " rightly. It is 1600 
 feet above the lake, which is itself 1200 feet above
 
 To His Brother Fritz. m 
 
 the level of the sea. The view, to the Savoy 
 mountains, over the blue waters of the lake, and 
 the continuous row of villages and country houses 
 on its shores, is most enchanting. The air is so 
 reviving that we daily ascend heights which 
 reach up to the snow-line, and every time we are 
 surprised by new views. Yesterday we walked in 
 brightest sunshine above the clouds. Beneath us 
 seemed to lie a white snow-field, from which only 
 the rugged Juras and the snow-capped summits of 
 the High Alps appeared. 
 
 I think you have done rightly in giving up your 
 troublesome post. I am glad that you are leaving 
 Flensburg where you would miss your usual occu- 
 pation. I, too, like LUbeck very much, and I 
 hope we shall come to see you there next year. 
 How much I should like to retire before then, but 
 it is uncertain whether circumstances will allow 
 me to send in my resignation. Then we could 
 spend next autumn together at Ghon. Adieu, 
 dear Fritz. With best love to Guste. 
 
 Your 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 112 Selections from Letters 
 
 Freiburg in Silesia. 
 
 July 24th, 1867. 
 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 I have received your letter of the 20th of 
 this month, also one from Guste, dated 19 th inst. 
 
 I have seen some beautiful estates here, but the 
 prices are exorbitant. The land here is sold at a 
 hundred thalers the half ton,^ and up to two hun- 
 dred in small portions ; as the soil is very fertile 
 and in a high state of cultivation, rent is very 
 hio-h. I have not come to a conclusion as yet. 
 Baron Richthofen will come to-morrow, he is my 
 adviser, as I can judge of nothing but the situation 
 and the house. But I have learnt this much, that 
 two hundred thousand thalers (£30,000) will not 
 do much where land is concerned. 
 
 I am surprised to hear from Guste that Marie's 
 liver is out of order. I have never known her to 
 be anything but strong and contented. It is, 
 however, possible that she has inherited an inclina- 
 tion in that direction from her father, who suffered 
 from his liver. I shall speak to the doctor as soon 
 as I come back, and I am quite ready to go with 
 ' Local measurement.
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 113 
 
 her to Karlsbad, but I am afraid she Avill laugh at 
 me when I propose it. 
 
 I am glad to hear that you like LUbeck ; I, too, 
 am very fond of the old toA\m with its spires and 
 old lime-tree avenues. Have you happened to 
 make the acquaintance of Senator Dr. Curtius ? 
 He is very devoted to me. We have had a 
 beautiful ride through the lovely mountains. 
 People are indescribably grateful here for the 
 protection which they received last year. All the 
 towns have hoisted flags ; Mayors and Councils 
 came to meet us at the gates ; a fat alderman had 
 his horses put in and came for miles to kiss my 
 hand ; the toll-gatherer on the high-road sent his 
 little girl with a simple little nosegay, etc. On the 
 1st of August we shall be back in Berlin. 
 
 I have a letter from Mary from Segeberg. She, 
 too, was much pleased with Liibeck. Xow fare- 
 w^ell, this must be enough for to-day, dear Fritz, 
 Best love to Guste. Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 114 Selections from Letters 
 
 Creisau, near Scliweidnitz, 
 Autumn, 1867. 
 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 I was very sorry not to be able to come to 
 Liibeck on the 3rd of tliis month, as I had intended, 
 but just at that time I had to make large pay- 
 ments for the purchase of my estate, Government 
 stamps and legal expenses ; then we came here on 
 the 10th inst. to make the necessary arrangements 
 in the new house, and to become generally ac- 
 quainted with our new surroundings ; and all this 
 prevented me from writing. In the country there 
 are such a number of things to be done, the day is 
 over in no time, and tired out we retire gladly to 
 bed in the evening. 
 
 Up to the present I have only' experienced the 
 , expense which the possession of an estate incurs, 
 and I shall have to get accustomed to it. Seven 
 hundred thalers (105Z.) for artificial manure, six 
 hundred thalers (901.) for new seed, the pay of the 
 work-people, repairs, &c. ; in a few days we shall 
 have the threshing-machine here, which costs 
 twenty-five thalers (3L 15s.) per day, but it 
 threshes three hundred bushels of wheat per day,
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 115 
 
 and enables us to put the straw into stacks in the 
 fields. The harvest is so abundant this year that 
 the bams, which are very extensive, cannot hold 
 it all. 
 
 Everybody congratulates me on my purchase at 
 the cost of about three hundred thalers (45/.) per 
 ton of land. The soil is most fertile, of great 
 depth, and pays the best in the country, but was 
 formerly very much neglected, and is not yet in the 
 best condition ; it therefore needs, for the present, 
 the artificial help of chemical manure (superphos- 
 phate). The situation between the Zobten on 
 the north, and the " liolie Eule " on the south side 
 is charming. I have taken my carriage and a 
 riding-horse with me, and it is delightful to drive 
 out after the heat of the day is over. The whole 
 country is like a garden, and wherever one drives 
 it is beautiful. There are very good roads, and the 
 hilly ground aftords endless change of scenery and 
 many views. "We have very pleasant neighbours who 
 have received us with the gi'eatest kindness. The 
 day before yesterday I took my seat, for the first 
 time, in the assembly of the Kreistag. We should 
 so much like to have you and Guste here, and we 
 
 I 2
 
 ii6 Selections from Letters 
 
 invite you most hccartily and pressingly. We are 
 putting off the longer excursions into the mountains 
 till you come. You would be a great help to me, 
 for I have all kinds of plans : an alteration of 
 the Schloss, a bridge over the Peile, the laying-out 
 of a park by making paths through fields and 
 wood, the planting of trees, etc., etc. I have sent 
 for a little surveying apparatus, and mean to begin 
 with drawing a plan of the land which I intend for 
 the park. But there are too many things to be 
 done. 
 
 Since my arrival here we have had most beautiful 
 harvest weather, and the whole day long heavy corn 
 waggons, laden with wheat, cross the yard and draw 
 up at the barns. Everythmg is built of stone. 
 The vaulted roof of the sheep-shed is supported by 
 twenty granite columns. But the " Schloss " has 
 a shingle roof and must have one of slate, which 
 will cost two thousand thalers (300L). Last night 
 we had a thunder-storm and the first rain, which 
 was very favourable for the rape-seed. I do not 
 think that they will l^e able to carry anything to- 
 day ; but they can plough. There is never any 
 v/ant of work here. I have agreed to a larger
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 117 
 
 allowance of meat to the farm labourers, to keep 
 them strong and make them willing. They are a 
 very fine race of people. 
 
 I think country-life here will interest you ; and 
 as you are free at last and your own master, I hope 
 you will not refuse my request to come. We send 
 our best love. Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, Dec. 29th, 18G7. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 . . . The movement towards the incorpora- 
 tion of Lauenburg ought to come from the mem- 
 bers of the Duchy. Our Parliament desires annexa- 
 tion, but the Government can take no steps until 
 the Duchy expresses such a w4sli. I do not see 
 how Ludwig under these circumstances can get an 
 appointment in Lauenburg. This difficulty of 
 findins: suitable work is another drawback in 
 small states. 
 
 The King has given me his large photograph for 
 a Christmas present ; I think you have seen it here 
 at Schnabely's. 
 
 Farewell, dear Fritz. Your brother, 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 1 1 8 Selections from Letters 
 
 Berlin, January 24th, 1868. 
 Deae Feitz, 
 
 ... In Prussia, during tliese troublous times 
 it is much more difficult to helj^ the ruined land- 
 owners and farmers than the starving work-people, 
 Avho are looked after extremely well. Collections 
 are being: made at home and abroad. The order of 
 the Knights of St. John will provide considerable 
 sums, and even ^larie is very busy with a bazaar 
 to be held in the castle. But the work provided by 
 the State is of far greater importance ; 15 millions 
 are to be spent in the construction of a railway. 
 Of course, this cannot change the dreadful climate 
 of this province, vvdiich has such a rich soil. All 
 field labour has to be done during the few summer 
 months, even building is stopped in the vv^inter. 
 When we begin the ploughing in Silesia, the sow- 
 ing has to be finished in Prussia, as snow and frost 
 are beginning then. This necessitates a compara- 
 tively large stock of utensils, and many workmen 
 and horses, who all have to be kept through the 
 long winter. 
 
 At midsummer, after a year's experience, I 
 shall be able to form some idea of the net profit
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 119 
 
 of tlie estate. Of course, in future, we could not 
 expect the same high price for the corn. ^Marie's 
 kitchen is always amply provided with butter, 
 hares, geese, and pork from Creisau. Much love 
 from both of us to Guste. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, January 27th, 1868. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 I am learning at Creisau what a small income 
 land produces in our times, even under the most 
 favourable circumstances. Though the price at 
 120 thalers (18Z.) the acre is thought very reason- 
 able by all competent judges, I shall be quite satis- 
 fied if, at the end of the year, my capital brings in 
 2J per cent, interest ; but I hardly expect it will. 
 He who wants a higher rate, must not invest his 
 money in land. But in spite of every drawback, 
 there is nothing like landed property. It will 
 always be the safest investment, while shares are 
 affected by the fluctuations of politics and the ex- 
 change which, of course, dej^cnd iinally on the 
 value of land and the security it gives. The great 
 lando"s\Tiers represent the highest rank in every
 
 I20 Selections from Letters 
 
 country. Even the income of tliis estate will 
 place my successor in a good position, and it 
 will probably be increased tbrougli tlie improve- 
 ments we hope to make, and Y>^hen the debt has 
 been paid off. 
 
 I think the whole income of Creisau will at pre- 
 sent have to be spent on necessary improvements, 
 as a new roof, the laying out of the park, improve- 
 ment of the fields, etc. ; of course, if this is done, 
 it will be all the better for my successor. The re- 
 mainder of my income will be sufficient for myself 
 and the support of relations, but I shall not be able 
 to increase my capital much. 
 
 Ludwig's resignation has been accepted. He 
 will receive a pension, the title of " Privy Coun- 
 cillor " and, I think, a decoration of some kind. 
 Adolf has been nominated Landrath in the district 
 of Pinneberg-Rantzau, and I hope that after the 
 dissolution of the Landtag, which will take place 
 in a few days, the position and salaries of the 
 officials in Holstein will be definitively settled. 
 With much love to Guste, your brother, 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 121 
 
 Berlin, Mai'ch 7th, 1868. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 I am quite satisfied with Creisau. I knew 
 beforehand that I could not expect high interest, 
 when I invested my capital in land ; it would 
 have been the same in Holstein. I should have 
 liked to settle there, but I did not hear of any- 
 thing suitable at the time that I wanted to buy. 
 The principal thing for me is the safety of the 
 investment, not high interest. If I wished to in- 
 crease it, I could easily do so by realizing. You 
 see a danger in the depreciation of land, but that 
 only affects those who are obliged to sell. "With 
 entailed property this does not come into con- 
 sideration. If stocks and land become depreciated 
 it does not alter the rate of interest nor the income. 
 Of course, it is an advantage for the buyer under 
 such circumstances. As the income would remain 
 the same, his capital would bring double the in- 
 terest. This has already happened with Austrian, 
 Eussian and American bonds of 5 per cent, which 
 can be bought for fifty, which means investing 
 one's capital at 10 per cent. If I could have 
 bought Creisau for half the sum I paid, the income
 
 122 Selections from Letters 
 
 of the estate tvouIcI have been the same, but I 
 should have received double the interest. But the 
 diiFerence is this, that if invested in shares, the 
 capital itself is endangered ; for if milliards double 
 or treble, the necessary consequence will be the 
 bankruptcy of the state, Tvhich has occurred several 
 times in Austria, and -will occur in America. 
 Landed property can be devastated by war and 
 misfortunes, but the soil cannot be carried away, 
 and its productiveness remains unchanged, at 
 least, as far as earthly things can be unchangeable. 
 Though the Hamburg merchants know quite well 
 the value of stocks and shares, yet they like to 
 invest their savings in property in Holstein, which 
 only brings in two per cent. 
 
 I have never heard a word of gratitude in 
 Holstein from anybody for having been freed from 
 the Danish Government, which was always de- 
 scribed as ignorant and t}Tannical. The people 
 in Silesia are very grateful to those who averted 
 the danger which threatened them. AYe have 
 had c[uite touching proofs of it. My name is 
 much honoured there, and that too is of value. 
 The railway does away with distance, and those
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 123 
 
 who wish to come to us will not make a two days' 
 journey an excuse. 
 
 If Adolf should retire, it would be a good thing 
 to Iniy the Dreskys' pretty house on the hill and 
 to keep it always as a dower house. 
 
 ^luch love to Guste. Marie joins me in love to 
 
 yourself. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, May 14th, 1868. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 I have duly received the pedigree. The 
 accounts which I had, not a very long time ago, 
 from relations li^'ing in Wiirtemberg, agree with 
 it perfectly. It would be very interesting to know 
 where the estates, which are mentioned in different 
 places, as for instance, Westerbriigge, which re- 
 mained in the family for several generations, are 
 situated. It is remarkable that Stridfeld (Meck- 
 lembourg) which remained in the branch of Claus 
 V. ^loltke for eleven generations, is, in the four- 
 teenth generation, found in the possession of the 
 family of Otto (Samow) oTvmed by Joachim (the 
 father of Count iVdam) of Walkendorf and Ehren-
 
 124 Selections from Letters 
 
 rcich of Walkenclorf. Both died in 1730, and yet 
 the estate remained in this branch, though there 
 Avere male heirs of the former living. At all 
 events, it is seldom that an estate, not entailed, 
 descends from 1309 to 1781, for almost five 
 himdred years, and through fifteen generations, 
 in the same family. 
 
 As far as I have been able to see from the names 
 of the estates, real Danish branches have only 
 existed since 1730. The sons of all the Moltkes 
 that were known in Denmark before that time, 
 have always returned to the Mecklenburg soil. 
 
 I had hoped that you and Guste would visit us at 
 Creisau, and that you would inspect my new park. 
 I expect to be there at the end of June or in July ; 
 but it will not be safe to make plans for the next 
 few weeks. La France s'ennuye ! and in order to 
 amuse her, Europe must be set on fire. In the 
 nineteenth century a war so frivolously begun, to 
 so little purpose, should seem impossible, it reminds 
 one of Louis XIV. and his Louvois, and yet we 
 stand, perhaps, close upon it. All depends upon 
 the decision of an irresolute man, who continually 
 excites the national passions on purpose and in
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 125 
 
 such a way that the country caniiot tolerate the 
 budo-et much lonf^jer ; a man who cannot decrease 
 the Ai-my without losing the good opinion of the 
 public, especially of the Army itself, and who will 
 have to lead this Army to be slaughtered, in order 
 to rid himself of it. The situation seems to me 
 very serious. AVith hearty love, your brother, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, December 6th, 1868. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 I am glad that you have found an easy way 
 of investing your money. It would be strange if 
 the Exchange of a commercial town like Liibeck 
 were not provided with Prussian Government 
 Consols. Very likely they arc numerous there. 
 You must not be astonished if the four-and-a-half 
 per cent, shares go down to three and a half. In 
 Prussian railway shares alone, forty millions 
 have been thrown away in the money market. 
 But much cash is sent to Russia. Ptussian railway 
 shares nominally bring five per cent, but as they 
 do not sell for more than seventy-five, they really 
 bring soveu per cent. Though these lines are
 
 126 Selections from Letters 
 
 ■useful for military purposes and administration in 
 general, it seems doubtful to me if they will ever 
 pay, as they are laid dovni through real deserts. 
 But the advantage of a safe income for a time 
 makes people overlook the danger, which they 
 have already experienced with Spanish and Aus- 
 trian shares. However, such events show the 
 value of greater security, and the Prussian Govern- 
 ment shares will probably rise in a very short 
 time. 
 
 I think Llibeck will have a good Mayor in 
 Curtius ; I am very glad that he has received this 
 token of confidence from his fellow-citizens. 
 
 Since I have seen the ghostly form of the cele- 
 brated violinist Ernst at Gastein, I am convinced 
 that music and nothing l3ut music, and especially 
 violin playing, is ruinous to the nerves. It would 
 probably be a good thing for Ludwig and his 
 daughters to exchange the musical and poetical 
 land of dreams for real life. A few months' stay 
 in the beautiful neighbourhood at Creisau would 
 do all of them good. It has been offered to them 
 repeatedly. Marie joins me in love to yourself 
 and Guste. Helmuth.
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 127 
 
 Berlin, January 8tli, 18G9.^ 
 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 You will have learnt from my letter to 
 Guste how pleased I am with the plan of our livin'^ 
 together, and how I value the sacrifice which you 
 are thus making for me. But I feel that I must 
 remind you again of one fact connected v.-ith it, 
 namely, that I occupy these rooms in an ofiicial 
 capacity, and when I die they must be given up, 
 in which case you would, of course, be obliged to 
 move again. 
 
 If, in spite of this objection, you still like to 
 keep to our arrangement, it will be best for you 
 to settle at Creisau for good, for Creisau is the 
 piece of earth which our family possesses ; and 
 pass the winter or, if you like, the greater part of 
 the year in Berlin with me as a visitor. I hope 
 to spend the spring and autumn at my country 
 seat. In the autumn I have to att3nd the man- 
 oeu\Tes and to travel on General Staff duty, which 
 will take several weeks. During that time vou 
 could stay quietly in the country. I hope 'you 
 
 ^ After his wife's death whicli took place on December 24tb, 
 1868.
 
 128 Selections from Letters 
 
 will take everything there that has become dear 
 to you through old associations, as the house 
 is very roomy. I shall be glad of everything you 
 like to have about you. 
 
 If you decide on joining me, I shall do every- 
 thing in my power to assure you an independent 
 
 future. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin in June, 1869. 
 
 Deak Fritz, 
 
 I received both your letters by the after- 
 noon post, and I arranged everything at once. 
 
 Adolf said in his letter, that he was coming to 
 Creisau in the middle of July, but I am sorry to 
 say only for a fortnight. Nobody will thank him 
 for it, and nobody could blame him if he asked 
 for a six weeks' or three months' leave. I have 
 proposed to him to come and meet me as early as 
 the 20th inst., we could then travel by rail 
 together through the lovely mountains ; but there 
 is nothing to be done with him ; he thinks the sea- 
 surrounded country would fall to pieces if he did 
 not write certain documents himself.
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 129 
 
 I am getting on quite well and am glad that 
 my loneliness will soon come to an end. I am 
 very thankful to you for Avriting so frequently, 
 it is almost as if I were with you. As it is late, 
 I must conclude, and remain, with hearty greetings, 
 Yours, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, June 22nd, 1869. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 I had not gone to Bremen on official 
 business, but had been ordered to Wilhelmshaven. 
 However, I had accepted the invitation of the town, 
 to be its guest, and the papers are full of intellec- 
 tual things that I might have said, but which I 
 did not say. 
 
 The King has dissolved the Zollparlament to- 
 day in person. 
 
 "With much love, and hoping much to see you 
 again soon, 
 
 HEL'MUTn. 
 
 Reims, September 6th, 1870. 
 Wer ziihlt die Volker, wer nennt die Namen, die 
 
 K
 
 130 Selections from Letters 
 
 gesteiTi liicr zusammen kamen P There stands 
 tlie miglity Cathedral in which the Kings of 
 France, Clovis, St. Louis, all the other Louis and 
 Charles X., were crowried. Close by, in the Arch- 
 bishop's palace, King William is staying now ; in 
 the large courtyard an armed company is bivouac- 
 ing, and in the city a whole Army-corps is 
 quartered. The cannon, munition- waggons and 
 transport, are well arranged along the promenade. 
 The large hotel opposite is crowded with officers, 
 regaling themselves after their many bivouacs. 
 We have been warned that the whole city is 
 undermined with millions of bottles of cham- 
 pagne. It is not surprising that some hundreds 
 of them exploded yesterday ; nothing else could 
 be expected in hot weather like this, and where 
 there are so many thirsty throats. Everywhere 
 friends met and greeted each other, but many 
 a one was missed, who is resting now under- 
 neath the green turf. Of our friends from 
 Creisau, I met Colonel v. Bock, Count Reichen- 
 
 ^ " "Who counts the nations, knows the names," Well-known 
 lines by Schiller. The last words are an addition made by 
 Moltke.
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 131 
 
 bach, Lieutenant Goldammer ; all were well. In 
 the evening our gardener came, and was glad to 
 see Augustus and Ernest. He has been attached 
 to the sanitary corps, and wears the red cross. 
 His corps, the sixth, has not been in any engage- 
 ment as yet, nevertheless they will very likely be 
 the first to see the towers of Xotre Dame. On 
 our way here, the day before yesterday, we passed 
 the camp of the Tenth Division, and found Hel- 
 muth with the officers of his regiment sitting 
 under an apple-tree. He looks a little thin, but 
 assured me he was perfectly well. He said he 
 had ^' plenty " of money ; refused a sausage, and 
 was contented with a bottle of "wine out of my 
 carriage. His coat tails were riddled with shot, 
 but he himself is unhai'med, and in good sjoirits. 
 He will receive his promotion as an officer in a 
 few days. 
 
 Wilhelm is l^efore Metz and will not allow 
 Bazaine to come out. One attempt had already 
 been made before his arrival. I think his only 
 course is to capitulate very soon. It will be quite 
 embarrassing to know what to do with 200,000 
 prisoners. 
 
 K 2
 
 132 Selections from Letters 
 
 I think" I have akeady told you, that I received 
 the painful commission of informing the French 
 plenipotentiaries, that MacMahon and his "whole 
 Army had been taken prisoners, and that I had to 
 settle the conditions. These negotiations took place 
 from tAvelve to tv/o o'clock, in the night after the 
 battle of Sedan. The following morning, General 
 Wimpifen, who was in command, after Mac- 
 Mahon was wounded, was to state definitely his 
 terms, but Napoleon came himself. I could not, 
 however, treat with him, as he was a prisoner of 
 war, having ■ua^itten to the King the day before : 
 " N'ayant pas pu mourir au milieu de mes troupes 
 il ne me reste qua remettre mon epee entre les 
 mains de Votre Majeste." I met him in a 
 miserable peasant's hut, close behind our outposts, 
 in expectation of an interview with the King ; he 
 was in full uniform, sitting on a wooden chair. 
 "When I entered, he rose and asked me to take a 
 seat, which was opposite him. To his proposals 
 I could only answer, that nothing less than the 
 capitulation of the whole Army was demanded, 
 and that I should have to give the signal for the 
 renev/al of the firing, if the Army had not sur-
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 133 
 
 rendered before ten o'clock. " C'est bien dur," 
 he sighed. But he Avas quiet and resigned to his 
 fate. Soon after a capituktion, draAvn up l)y us 
 and translated, was signed without hesitation by the 
 unfortunate WimpfFen. He had arrived from 
 Africa only two days before, and he must have found 
 his position at the head of the totally demoralized 
 and terribly excited soldiers at Sedan a most trying 
 one. But eighty cannon stood close before the town, 
 with 150,000 men behind them. AYimpfFen has 
 received permission to go to Wiirtemberg, where 
 he has relations (doubtless our cousin Kiithchen 
 belongs to the same family). He will never be 
 forgiven in France for having signed the treaty, 
 however innocent he may have been of the great 
 catastrophe. 
 
 By-the-bye, he has thanked me by letter for the 
 considerate manner in which these painful nego- 
 tiations have been conducted. 
 
 On the following morning, a long row of 
 carriages, escorted by a squadron of Black Hussars 
 (the Death-Heads), drove in pouring rain through 
 Donchery on the high-road to Bouillon (in 
 Belgium). Count Bismarck looked out of the
 
 134 Selections from Letters 
 
 window on one side of the street, myself on the 
 other ; the abdicated Emperor bowed, and a piece 
 of the world's history was finished. 
 
 Everybody is anxious to know what will become 
 of France ; no donbt a military republic. Mean- 
 while we shall march to Paris. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Reims, September 11th, 1870. 
 
 While our troops are making long marches 
 on account of new operations, the Commanders- 
 in-Chief have been allowed to remain in this 
 ancient city, where the kings used to be crowned. 
 
 We all enjoy this rest, it will also be a boon to 
 the horses, who have kept up wonderfully so far. 
 The weather is bad, cold and damp ; we see nothing 
 of the fine climate of France. 
 
 Wilhelm moves on to-morrow to besiege Toul, 
 unless the cavalry is sent here to Eeims. Hel- 
 muth is at present near Montmirail. 
 
 I hope you have had my two last letters 
 from here, and that you will soon receive forty 
 bottles of champagne which I have sent, and with
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 135 
 
 ■which, I hope, you will drink the health of our 
 brave troops. 
 
 By rights the war ought to be ended now as 
 France has no longer an Army ; one has capitulated 
 and the other will certainly have to do so. At Metz 
 this is the twenty-fourth day that 200,000 mouths 
 have had to be fed. ^Ye hear from the prisoners 
 that they have begun to cat horse flesh. Bazaine 
 may make another desperate attempt to cut through 
 the lines, Init all necessary precautions to prevent 
 it have been taken. In Paris there are no other 
 soldiers left but the incomplete corps Vinoy, and a 
 very large number of gardes nationales, men who 
 defend themselves behind ramparts and ditches, 
 but who can never dare to come out and fight our 
 men in the open field. The difficulty is that there 
 is no authority with whom peace can be concluded. 
 The present Government was established in this 
 manner : at the last ridiculous meeting a work- 
 man jumped upon the president's chair, rang the 
 bell and proclaimed the republic. What the rest 
 of France and the wealthy classes think of it, we 
 do not know. 
 
 Yesterday I drove with Henry and do Claer to
 
 136 Selections from Letters 
 
 the forsaken camp near Chalons. A fortnight ago, 
 when the 4th Cavalry division, the " uhlans prus- 
 siens" who were known to have stormed villages 
 on foot, were said to be advancing, the terror was 
 so gi'eat that the whole Army Corps fled to Reims 
 and in such haste, that our horsemen found half- 
 served breakfasts, cannon, trunks, Avomen's clothes, 
 and letters just begun. Here all the walls are bored 
 through to make loopholes, great entrenchments 
 had been constructed, but they were never used. 
 
 To-day we received the news of the unhappy 
 catastrophe at Laon ; you Avill have read of it in 
 the papers before you receive these lines. The 
 number of victims which this war demands is 
 dreadful, and, in spite of this, the English would 
 have us contented with money ! With God's help 
 we shall be able, in a fortnight, to meet every un- 
 called-for mediator with 200,000 men, and yet, 
 with the remainder, be able to finish our war with 
 France. People have not yet learned the meaning 
 of the word " Deutschland," but what is of far 
 greater importance, Germany herself has learnt it 
 now. Best love. 
 
 Helmuts.
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 137 
 
 Versailles, December 12th, 1870. 
 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 We have had as much as ten degrees R. of 
 cold ; to-day it began suddenly to thaw. Such 
 an early winter is very unusual here, and people 
 say that it is a new " Chicane de Monsieur Bis- 
 marck." 
 
 We hear more of Paris from English and Belgian 
 papers by Berlin than here close before the town, 
 where only the Valerien (Ballerien as our jDCople 
 call it) speaks to us. The gates of the city are 
 guarded, and even the troops, who camp between 
 the ramparts and the forts, know nothing of what 
 occurs in the city. We expect another desperate 
 sally, but this will probably be the last. The raw 
 French recruits are beaten in the open field one 
 after another, but Ave cannot be everyw^here ; little 
 surprises cannot be avoided, but require to be 
 punished with inexorable severity. AVhcn a hand- 
 ful of ruffians, armed with guns and flags, throng 
 into the houses, singing the Marseillaise, shoot out 
 of the windows and run away by the back door, 
 the city has to suffer for it. Those towns which 
 have a garrison of the enemy's troops may think
 
 138 Selections from Letters 
 
 themselves liappy. Our relations here are well. 
 Henry is well and in good spirits. I suppose 
 Guste was much pleased to hear that he has re- 
 ceived the iron cross. To-nio-ht he is to sin"; to 
 the CroT\TL Prince, who likes to hear him. Herr 
 von Keudell will accompany him on the piano. 
 
 I had a joostcard from William not long ago. 
 He is following up the Army of the Loire at this 
 moment ; he is often cold and hungry, but other- 
 wise well. He has a hundred and twenty thalers 
 (£18) allowance to receive from me, but money is 
 of no use where nothing can be had for it. I hope 
 he will soon have a little rest in the beautiful and 
 rich country of Touraine. Unfortunately he had 
 to leave the fine horse which I had given him, ill, 
 at Rambouillet, and when Henry went there to 
 fetch it, it had been killed. 
 
 Helmuth had to be outpost again yesterday. 
 The brave boy always does his duty joyfully. 
 Almost every night the forts fire heavy cannon at 
 hap-hazard. Out of a hundred bombs perhaps 
 one will hit by chance. In the daytime the 
 outposts signal when a shot is coming, for the 
 men to have time to lie down on the ground,
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 139 
 
 where they have not much to fcLr from tlie splin- 
 ters, though it can never be pleasant. It seems 
 that the French add daily a pound of powder to 
 each loading; they reach already as far as Versailles. 
 Nothing is gained by this waste of ammunition, 
 and the relieving armies they still hope to see, 
 will never hear them. Henry and I have just been 
 to take a large tin box with ]\Iagdeburg Sauer- 
 kraut, another tin box with salt meat, a bag of 
 peas and two bottles of champagne to Helmuth. 
 The poor boys will have a jolly evening. 
 
 The garde-du-corps has not been in any fights 
 lately. Ludwig is on the Loire. No news of the 
 prisoner of war. Count Brockdorff, has come, and 
 it is impossible to liberate him. AVe have offered, 
 through the American ambassador in Paris, to 
 exchange all the prisoners ; we have a stock of 
 them, more than enough, but the French have so 
 few of ours that they want to keep them for the 
 sake of being asked for them. So our offer has 
 remained unanswered. But, with God's help, the 
 day is not far off when all the prisoners will be 
 released. The French now have their Government 
 in three places, in Bordeaux, in Paris, and before
 
 140 Selections from Letters 
 
 Paris, for Trocliu lias, so to say, shut himself out 
 from the city. 
 
 My compliments to General Hanenfelclt, Scheller 
 and Gliczinski, and all who remember me. It is 
 late ; I must conclude. ]\Iucli love and a joyful 
 Christmas. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Versailles, January 1st, 1871. 
 
 A happy New Year to you ! 
 
 May it bring peace, peace to the whole country, 
 and the peace of God which passeth all under- 
 standing to every single subject. 
 
 (Here follows family news about the relations on 
 the scene of war.) 
 
 Berlin, Jime 13th, 1871. 
 Deae Fritz, 
 
 I received your letter from Kreuth yester- 
 day, and am pleased that you like your stay there. 
 I, too, shall have to go to Gastein for a short 
 treatment. I hope to be able to get away during 
 the last ten days of this month, after the winding
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 141 
 
 up of business and tiie entrance of the troops into 
 Berlin, which takes place on Friday, and whicli 
 will last five hours. It is a pity that you are not 
 here to see it. It will be most unfortunate if 
 the Aveather does not change. From Lennc Street 
 to the Brandenburg gate immense stands have been 
 erected for about a hundred thousand men. At 
 the Halle and Potsdam gates stand the equestrian 
 statues of Germania and Alsacia, which may col- 
 lapse in the continual rain if one does not put 
 giant umbrellas into their hands. The large Belle- 
 Alliance Square is occupied by two stands, which 
 reach as high as the second stories of the houses ; 
 just the same arrangement has been made in the 
 squares before the Opera, University and Lust- 
 garten. Numerous poles ornamented with flags 
 and streamers are fixed up along the Via Triiim- 
 phalis and Utiter den Linden, cannon and mitrail- 
 leuses are placed on both sides from the gate to 
 the palace ; they are closely packed, more than a 
 thousand pieces, not quite a fourth part of the 
 number whicli we have taken from the French. 
 The house ^ is proceeding but slowly. The 
 
 1 The new General Staff-building' in Berlin.
 
 142 Selections from Letters 
 
 balcony is finished and tlie view from it over the 
 Thiergarten, which is greener than ever, is very 
 fine. With best love to Guste, 
 
 Your Helmuth. 
 
 St. Petersburg, Dec. 11th, 1871. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 It is not easy to find a free moment for 
 letter-writing here. But to-day I will at least 
 give you a sign of life, as it is already a week 
 since we left Berlin.^ There is so much to tell, 
 that I must keep the greater part till we meet. 
 But I must say this, that in spite of the many 
 dejeuners, diners, and soirees, we are still quite 
 well and in good spirits, and that we have not 
 only been received with the greatest attention, but 
 with real heartiness. The Emperor himself likes 
 to distinguish us on every occasion and to give 
 expression to his good opinion of our Army. He 
 has conferred on me his highest decoration, the 
 order of St. Andrew. I occupy a whole suite of 
 rooms in the Winter Palace, a colonel of the 
 
 ^ Moltke had gone in attendance on Prm:;e Frederick Charles 
 to the St. George's festival at St. Petersburg.
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 143 
 
 General Staff is in attendance ; there are daily two 
 dinners with champagne, one is called dcjeiuier, 
 the other dinner; in the evening boxes at five 
 theatres are at our disposal ; besides that there are 
 soirees ; and a carriage with a lackey, a coach, and 
 a sledge, are always ready for us. The newspapers 
 will probably tell you all about the great St. 
 George's festival. There were more than a thou- 
 sand people and more than a hundred flags in the 
 immense rooms of this palace. AVe must have walked 
 several " versts " by the time we had followed the 
 Czar through every hall. After the reception, Alass 
 was celebrated ; then there was a dinner down- 
 stairs for 700 soldiers of St. George's Cross, and a 
 banquet of 500 covers for the Court in a large hall. 
 Yesterday's parade went off well. There were 
 forty battalions, thirty-four squadrons and artillery 
 in the square before the castle, along the Admiralty 
 building, and St. Isaac's Church as far as the 
 statue of Peter the Great. It was not very cold, 
 at the most 6^ R., and the sun came out, which is 
 very rarely the case at this season. I had an 
 excellent horse, and everything went off as well as 
 possible.
 
 144 Selections from Letters 
 
 But there is so much to be seen here, that all 
 my free time, after visits paid and parades 
 attended, is filled up. It is very convenient that 
 the palace of the Empress Catherine, the Eremitage, 
 is connected with the Winter Palace. The gi'eatest 
 art treasures are heaped up there. Then it is a 
 great pleasure to drive in a sledge through the 
 lively streets, the prospect and the Morskaja, etc. 
 There are 60,000 sledges in St. Petersburg. You 
 can imagine the crowd. Everybody drives at a 
 sharp trot, passing each other closely without ever 
 touching. Probably we shall go on to Moscow, 
 and I shall not be back before another week. The 
 Grand Duchess Helena is very fond of music. 
 This evening her Imperial Highness has, so she 
 told me, arranged a quartet for me. Before going 
 there, we shall dine with the Czar, who honoured 
 me with a visit to-day. Everything is done to 
 show us respect ; our servants, too, are very well 
 looked after. Augustus goes to see the ballet to- 
 night. Yesterday we heard Lucca as Zerline in 
 Don Giovanni. The carriages wait outside the 
 palaces and theatres in spite of the cold, and one 
 can get away at any moment. I profit by it in
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 145 
 
 trying to be in bed before midnight ; on the 
 
 whole, the night is made into day, and as it is 
 
 dark at three o'clock in the afternoon, the day is 
 
 very short. With best love, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Creisau, June 22nd, 1872. 
 Dear Fkitz, 
 
 Your last two letters of the 13th and 15th 
 have arrived all right, and we have heard at last 
 from the other travellers. Henry and Kiithchen ^ 
 had gone in search of Ludwig, and had learnt 
 " wat bi 'ne Oeven-aschiing herutkiimmt." ^ After 
 a short stay at Venice they went to Lake Garda, 
 embarked for Bellagio and hurried to Ludwig's 
 house — but oh ! here they were received with the 
 word of terror, " those you are in search of have 
 departed ;" ^ where ? nobody knew. Kiithchen 
 broke out into tears, Henry into loud laughter. 
 
 ' Fniulcin Katharina von 'Wimpfren, a cousin of the Fiold- 
 Marshal, 
 
 * Title of a book by Reuter, author of well-known talis in 
 the " patois " of Mecklenburg. 
 
 ' Quotation in parody of Schiller's "Gang nach clem 
 Eisenhammer." 
 
 L
 
 146 Selections from Letters 
 
 They hastened on to Brunneck — no Luchvig there, 
 he had gone on an excursion to Venice and 
 Trent. Kiithchen then went to Klagenfurt to her 
 sister; Henry had a delightful journey through 
 Switzerland and the Engadine, and met Ludwig 
 at last at Brunneck. Kiithi Avas expected there ; 
 he will accompany her to Munich on the 23rd, 
 then come here by Prague. I expect him about 
 the 26th or 26th instant. Guste comes on the 
 28th ; Ludwig is longing for home. Hanne ^ is to 
 stay three months at Brunneck. They like it very 
 much. 
 
 Brunneck is close to Gastein, but the Tauem 
 can hardly be passed except on foot. Ludwig is 
 thinking of going to Gastein. 
 
 My programme for the summer is as follows : 
 on September 6th I must be in Berlin, on account 
 of the Emperor of Austria's visit. My journey on 
 General Staff business will be in Alsace, therefore 
 I had to fix the interview at Mulhausen as early 
 as August 15th. If I go to Gastein at all, I shall 
 have to leave this place in the middle of July." 
 I cannot get rid of my rheumatism here, it has 
 ' His brother Ludwig's eldest daughter.
 
 To His Brother Fuitz. 147 
 
 moved from the l3ack into the left leg. Gastein 
 would not cure it, ])ut the air there is strengthen- 
 ing and irood for the constitution. The rooms 
 here are very cold, and I may make it worse by 
 working out of doors and by getting warm pruning 
 trees, &c. 
 
 Auguste Moltke has become wonderfully strong 
 here, she can now walk as far as the Mlihlenberg. 
 The four girls are very happy, and enjoy them- 
 selves immensely with croquet, ball-playing, and 
 driving. 
 
 All of us greet you heartily. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Ragatz, June 24th, 1874. 
 Dear Fritz, 
 
 On the 21st I went to Freiberg in Saxony, 
 on the 12tli to Augsburg, yesterday I arrived 
 here, and to-day I had my first bath. The scenery 
 here is finer than at Gastein and life is pleasanter. 
 The country is beautiful; a very large building 
 has been added to the old hotel where I stayed in 
 1865 for the last time with Marie. Close by there 
 are most beautiful gardens with rare trees and 
 
 T O
 
 14B Selections from Letters 
 
 vines in bloom, and the air is scented with 
 mignonette and roses. I had to take rooms at 
 the top of the house, and have to ascend seventy- 
 two steps ; but the view from my windows is so 
 charming, that I cannot make up my mind to 
 change them for other rooms lower down. On 
 one side the neat little place is enclosed by a 
 wooded hill, on the other side by the Rhine and 
 the precipitous, bare Falkniss. There I must not 
 be seen, or else I might run the risk of being taken 
 to Vaduz as a prisoner of war. At Nikolsberg 
 they have neglected to make peace with Liechten- 
 stein, so that according to the rights of war, the 
 Vaduz Army might enter Germany if it liked, and 
 in my opinion the principality is still in a state 
 of war with us. In the distance beyond, tower 
 the heights of the Vorarlberg Alps still covered 
 with large snow-fields ; on this side of the Rhine 
 which, by-the-bye, is quite ugly here, old ruins 
 of castles like Friedenstein, Werdenberg, and 
 Krogems stand out on the wooded hills. Near 
 the last-named castle, which is still inhabited, a 
 plain stretches along between the Rhine and 
 the Wallensee. A ditch, of about ten feet in
 
 To His Brother Fritz. 119 
 
 depth, or a very high flooding of the big stream, 
 would carry its -waters into the lake. But such 
 an arrangement would put an end to the Falls at 
 Schaflfliausen, and the consequence would be a 
 dull, dirty stream at Cologne, something like the 
 colour of the Rhine here where it flows out of the 
 slate mountains. It does not become clear till it 
 leaves the Lake of Constance, near the tovra of that 
 name, like pure green crystal. Fortunately this 
 basin, which is a thousand feet above the level of 
 the sea, is also a thousand feet deep, and is able to 
 receive all the mud and the i-ollin2: stones which 
 devastate the upper valley of the stream, and 
 have formed a delta stretching out for miles 
 near the entrance of the river. Its stagnant waters, 
 no doubt, render the air here less healthy than at 
 Gastein. The living is much dearer too than it is 
 there. We are extremely well fed, and can make 
 lovely excursions from here by rail with great 
 comfort. 
 
 I must conclude my rej)ort for to-day. With 
 much love, dear Fritz, 
 
 Your brother, 
 
 Helmutii.
 
 LETTERS TO Wll.HELM VO>J 
 rtiOLTKE. 
 
 We begin this part of the collection with a letter from the 
 Field-Marshal to his brother Adolf, Wilhelm's father, which 
 retiuires the following explanations : — Wilhelm von Moltke 
 Avas a boy at the Gymnasium at Altona, in 1863, who, accord- 
 ing to his OAvn statement, had grown beyond his strength ; and 
 after a severe cold he had hemorrhage. His uncle, who was at 
 that time at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, attending a Conference 
 on the Danish question, was informed of this fact by Wilhelm's 
 father. The Pield-Marshal replied that he wished Wilhelm 
 to be sent to Wiesbaden, where he would probably grow 
 stronger in the mild climate, and at the same time he could 
 finish his school studies ; he would pay the expenses, and 
 would be glad to relieve his brother. So it was arranged, 
 
 Berlin, Dec. 6tli, 1863. 
 Dear Adolf, 
 
 . . . Most likely you are anxious to hear 
 details about Willielm.^ Last Wednesday night he 
 
 1 Born September 11th, 1846. Now Lieutenant-Colonel v. 
 Moltke, present owner of the entailed estates of Creisau, and 
 commander of the Leib-Cuirassier-Eegiment, Great Elector 
 (Silesian) ITo. 1.
 
 Selections from Letters, Etc. 151 
 
 arrived at Frankfort after a journey of fifteen hours, 
 well and with a good appetite ; there he had a warm 
 room and an excellent bed. As the weather was 
 bad he had not seen much on his journey, but had 
 slept the greater part of the time. I had intended 
 taking him to Wiesbaden, on Thursday, but it 
 rained incessantly, and I wished that he should 
 receive a good impression of his future abode. I 
 therefore kept him at Frankfort, and, as far as the 
 weather permitted, he went about seeing the Cathe- 
 dral, the RiJmerberg, the Gutenberg statue, in short 
 the principal sights of the town. In the eVening I 
 took him to the theatre, where Marschner's pretty 
 opera " Hans Heyling " was performed. We left 
 at ten o'clock on Friday, the day before yesterday. 
 It was cold, and the first snow lay on the Taurus 
 Mountains. Our first visit at Wiesbaden was to the 
 Headmaster S., but we did not find him at home ; 
 then we went to Comtesse B. She seemed to 
 think that she had been asked to settle definitively 
 about Wilhelm's stay at Wiesbaden. As she cannot 
 go out, she had made some arrangement through 
 her physician with a Professor M. His fees were 
 higher than I had intended to give. I had to give
 
 152 Selections from Letters 
 
 lip a Friiulein F., whom the Headmaster had parti- 
 cularly recommended to me ; but at all events, I 
 wished to hear first more about Professor M., who 
 was said to live well, but rather above his means. 
 I looked at his house from the outside, it stands in 
 T. street, the warmest part of the town, surrounded 
 by the hot springs. Through the middle of the 
 to^vii there is an iron-covered walk which is over- 
 grown with the vine in summer, so that it is 
 always a pleasant promenade. From there we 
 went to the Headmaster, who received Wilhelm 
 very kindly. He said there was no objection to 
 Professor M., though he had not mentioned him 
 at first. 
 
 We then v^^ent to the Professor, after having 
 refreshed ourselves by a dinner at the hotel. 
 Unfortunately we only saw the " Frau Professorin," 
 an old lady of few words, and no crinoline, simply 
 but tidily dressed ; the rooms are small, but every- 
 thing was in good order. Wilhelm's room is very 
 small, with one window looking on to the back, but 
 it is the south side ; view, there is none. She did 
 not know the terms, and her mathematical husband 
 was not expected home before 4 o'clock.
 
 To WiLIIKLM VON MOLTKE. 1 53 
 
 We therefore made u^^e of this unexpected 
 leisure, and of some convenient sunny hours to go 
 up to the Greek chapel which lies on a height near 
 the Waldthurm, -whence one has a beautiful view 
 over the Rheingau towards the high cupolas of 
 the distant cathedral of Mayence. We visited 
 the mausoleum of the late Grand Duchess there. 
 On our return to the town I showed WiUielm the 
 gambling tables, which looked quite inviting. 
 Before the Kurhaus, two splendid fountains in large 
 basins were playing, all round it were numerous 
 gas lights. The Grand Ducal band plays every 
 day in the large hall with its marble pillars. 
 Adjoining this hall are the refreshment rooms 
 with magnificent looking-glasses and rich silk 
 hangings, and reading-rooms ; also the four large 
 halls with their four green tables closely crowded all 
 round with gamblers and lookers-on. Deep silence 
 reisnis there. No sound is heard but the rolling of 
 the ball on the roulette table and its falling into the 
 hole, the chinking of the gold and silver coins, 
 most heaps of which are generally pitilessly swept 
 off by the croupiers. In other cases the money is 
 carelessly thrown towards the winner. Everybody
 
 154 Selections from Letters 
 
 tries to appear indifferent, but only the bank is 
 so in reality, as it is certain of the gain, with the 
 surplus of which the greater part of this Eden has 
 been created : the park, the playing waters, even 
 streets and railways. 
 
 Of course, the pupils of the Gymnasium ^ are not 
 allowed to enter the Kurhaus, but it seemed right 
 to me to satisfy the natural curiosity of a young 
 man in a prudent manner. He has been warned 
 of gambling now. 
 
 At last we met the professor in his dressing 
 gown, in a very comfortable study. He said every- 
 thing would be ready for Wilhelm, whom he would 
 treat like a son. He seems a good-natured old 
 gentleman. There is also a daughter vrho plays 
 the piano. As they had visitors I did not see her ; 
 but judging by the parents I should not think 
 that she would be danijerous. 
 
 I have told them that Wilhelm must neither 
 take tea, coifee, nor wine. The Professor pro- 
 posed weak tea in the evening, which did not 
 seem inviting. He promised that it should be as 
 weak as possible; but I preferred milk in the 
 ^ Boys' schools for the assical side.
 
 To WlLHELM VON MOLTKE. 1 55 
 
 morning and in the evening with good wholesome 
 lood. This was promised with the remark that 
 the professor himself needed such. Willielm has 
 his meals with the family, lives with them, but has 
 his o"\vn room, where he can have a fire. The fur- 
 niture consists of a good bed, a looking-glass, a 
 chest of drawers, a table, a sofa, which has the 
 advantage of being too short to lie on at full length, 
 and some engravings ; and a desk on which he can 
 write in an upright position has been ordered. 
 
 We must see how Willielm will like it. We 
 might still apply to Fraulein F. later on, if there 
 is any sufficient cause for dissatisfaction. Wilhelm 
 has a letter from Sanitiitsrath H. to Dr. P., but as 
 he had packed it in his box we could not take it. 
 Wilhelm will go to him, and if necessary ask his 
 advice. We then hastened back to the station for 
 AVilhelm's things, and not till I had seen him com- 
 fortably settled in his new home, did I return to 
 Frankfort, where I had still much to do before I 
 was able to return to Berlin yesterday, Saturday. 
 I surprised Marie, who was playing a rubber of 
 whist Avith General Gliszinski and some ladies. 
 
 I suppose Wilhelm will vvrite very soon, and tell
 
 156 Selections from Letters 
 
 us how he is getting on. He was quite well and 
 in good spirits, as is natural at his age. He looks 
 extremely well ; he is not only tall, but quite sturdy. 
 I hope that in a few years he will be, with God's 
 help, a strong, healthy man. He will soon make 
 some friends amongst his two hundred school- 
 fellows. This dull Sunday, while he is still a 
 stranger there and alone, will perhaps be his worst 
 day. 
 
 Now farewell, dear Adolf, best love to Auguste. 
 Don't be anxious needlessly. Times are serious 
 enough for real sorrows. Willielm has not given 
 me the impression that he need cause any great 
 anxiety. Marie joins me in hearty love. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, Dec. 13th, 1863. 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 I thank you for your letter dated the 11th 
 inst. I am glad that you feel at home in your 
 little room and with people who, though strangers, 
 have received you kindly. It is a pleasant sur- 
 prise that the professor's daughter plays the piano
 
 To WiLHELM VON MoLTKE. j 57 
 
 SO v/cll, I suppose you will accompany her on the 
 violin. You are sure soon to make friends with 
 your school-fellows, and it is pleasant for you that 
 Colonel Scliwarz is so kind to you. Last Sunday 
 week we had a dull day here, the sky was dark, 
 and it rained, and I thought you would have a 
 trying time and would feel very lonely in your 
 little room, a stranger and without friends, but we 
 are glad now to hear that, instead of that, you took 
 a romantic walk in the sunshine to the Burgruine. 
 I hope that the good climate and the beautiful 
 country will prove beneficial to your health, but 
 you must be very careful mth yourself. Dr. Pesch 
 says that you must not only take long walks in 
 the open air, but do plenty of gymnastics, calis- 
 thenics, exercises, etc., both in and out of doors ; 
 but it must not be such violent exertion as would 
 increase the pulsation of the blood, or the palpita- 
 tions of the heart. 
 
 You must avoid running up steep hills or moun- 
 tains. There are printed instructions about calis- 
 thenics to be had, which you might try to procure 
 for yourself. But the exercises are only useful so 
 long as they are done carefully and regularly, for
 
 158 Selections from Letters 
 
 instance, during dressing. Only a short time ago 
 I had occasion to notice what results could be 
 obtained by out-of-door gymnastics, when the 
 monthly list of the reserve men of a company of 
 about forty fusileer guards was sent in to me. 
 The regimental doctor had measured the men's 
 chests, and after three months' exercise this was 
 repeated ; it was found that with all these young 
 men, who are still at a growing age, the thoraxes 
 had enlarged one, two, three inches, and with many 
 of them four, five, and even as much as seven. 
 Of course, you must not neglect your studies 
 through attention to your body. I hope that 
 without too much exertion you will get your 
 removal to Ober-Prima^ at Easter. When you 
 have passed the " Abiturienten " examination, any 
 career will be open to you, and your choice must 
 then depend upon the state of your health. Re- 
 main a good boy, and you will see that your cross 
 old uncle wishes for your true happiness. 
 
 How do you like the food ? Do you sometimes 
 long for the flesh-pots of Altona ? Tea can be 
 weakened ad infinitum, but as the asymptote, how- 
 * Highest fonn in the Gymnasium.
 
 To WiLIIELM VON MOLTKE. 1 59 
 
 ever far it is produced, never touches the hyperbola, 
 
 it would be a harmless, but hardly a tasty beverage. 
 
 I hope that good milk is to be had at Wiesbaden. 
 
 It is a pity that the beautiful music in the Kursaal 
 
 is so close to the gambling-tables. 
 
 We had good news from Holstein. Your papa 
 
 is well, but he has much to suffer from the political 
 
 difficulties there. Next Sunday the Bundes truppen 
 
 (troops of the allied powers) will enter the country, 
 
 and before Christmas a great deal will be decided. 
 
 Farewell, my old boy. With best love, your 
 
 uncle, 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Hearty greetings, dear Wilhelm, from your Aunt 
 Marie. 
 
 Headquarters at Apenradc, 
 August 15th, 1864. 
 My dear WiLHELjr, 
 
 Thank you for your letter of the 10th inst., 
 and for remembering me. I am very glad indeed 
 that the state of your health is so satisfactory. I 
 hope that, when you have left off growing, you will 
 be a strong and healthy boy. But do not forget that
 
 i6o Selections from Letters 
 
 for years to come you will have to be careful, any 
 rashness just in this period of development might 
 do you great and lasting harm. Much exercise 
 will be good for you, but it must not be violent. 
 We envy you your hot sun, from wliich you suffer 
 at Wiesbaden. Here we are dressed as if it were 
 winter, we never go out without a coat. During the 
 dog-days we had to have fires several times. It is 
 quite natural that you should wish to see your home 
 again, and in the holidays it would not be difficult 
 to manage it. Your Father and Mother and relations 
 will be very pleased, I am sure. I am glad that 
 you manage your allowance so well that you can 
 pay the travelling expenses yourself. A s I see that 
 you are careful with money, which is very impor- 
 tant for your future welfare, I should like to give 
 you fifty florins for the journey, it will give you 
 more pleasure, and be of greater profit to your- 
 self You will receive the money when you are 
 at home. 
 
 When do the holidays begin? I thought the 
 longest were during the dog-days. 
 
 If you have not made this little excursion before, 
 I advise you to go by steamer as far as Cologne.
 
 To WiLHELM VON MOLTKE. l6l 
 
 In this way you would have the advantage of 
 seeing both banks of the Rhine, and with greater 
 leisure, than you could do in the train. Tlie 
 steamer is very cheap no^v through competition, 
 you can get out at any place you like, and con- 
 tinue your journey with any steamer ; you take 
 your ticket to Cologne. At Coblentz (Hotel zuin 
 Riesen, where you may remember me to i\Iuttcr 
 Schury) you may send to the Governor and ask 
 for a ticket to go up, but slowly, to Ehrenbreit- 
 stein. You can also, without special permission, 
 ascend the Asterstein whence you will have a 
 beautiful view. At Cologne (Hotel Prince Charles) 
 there is, of course, the Cathedral ; and a little 
 steamer, which leaves the floating bridge (west 
 side) every half hour, takes you to the Zoological 
 Garden with the largest aquarium in the world. 
 
 It will be better, perhaps, for you to travel 
 back by Cassel (go up to Wilhelmshohe with 
 care) and Schon-Marburg. 
 
 Your little enclosure reminds me of the day on 
 the Kapellenberg. How I should like you to take 
 me about amongst the beautiful mountains there ! 
 But it is'Very pretty here too, and especially at 
 
 M
 
 1 62 Selections from Letters 
 
 Apenrade, Y/hich is surrounded by hills covered 
 Avith beautiful beeches, through whose dark green 
 rich meadows and the blue sea are shining in the 
 distance. No wonder it is so green here, as it 
 I'ains every day, but if the weather is fine, the 
 country looks beautiful. 
 
 As you are sure not to be tempted to gamble, 
 you can enjoy the pleasant things at the Kursaal, the 
 ]:)eautiful music, the park and the theatre, without 
 ]iesitation. It is not your fault that the Govern- 
 ment of Nassau has not put down the tables in 
 spite of the declared wish of the Confederate 
 States and the many victims. 
 
 I have good news from your parents. Your 
 father is well in spite of the bad weather and the 
 political troubles. I hope that matters will soon 
 1)0 settled, and that he will be able to keep 
 the post which has become so dear to him. 
 Uncle Fritz is still in office, but he suffers much 
 under the course which things have taken. , . , 
 
 Now farewell, my old boy, be brave, remember 
 me to your Herr Professor, and think lovingly of 
 your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 To WiLIIELM VON MOLTKI:. 163 
 
 Flensburg, Nov. 1st, 1864. 
 
 My dear Wilhelm, ' 
 
 First I have to tell you the sad news of the 
 death of your Aunt Betty. She died after a short 
 illness of three days in the evening of October 27th, 
 quietly and peacefully in the arms of her husband, 
 without struggle. She had not been able to sleep, 
 and her husband held her for a long time for fear 
 of disturbing her, before he perceived that life was 
 extinct. 
 
 Many thanks for your good wishes on my birth- 
 day. In answer to your question concerning 
 making the Army your profession, I must tell you 
 the following : My physician, Dr. Pesch, who is 
 also an Army doctor, tells me, that, if he were 
 asked, he could not conscientiously give you a 
 health certificate such as is required for the Army. 
 If, while you are at a growing age, you continue still 
 to take care of yourself and diet yourself strictly, 
 you may become a healthy, strong man. But if you 
 should attempt to undergo the exertions which the 
 military sei-vice requires, especially the Infantry, it 
 would probably bring very bad consequences. In 
 addition, we have just had a campaign in which 
 
 M 2
 
 1 64 Selections from Letters 
 
 you were not able to take part. If we continue to 
 have peace for some time, which seems probable, 
 you must be prepared to remain a lieutenant for 
 about twelve or fifteen years. This is the average 
 time for this lowest grade, but very often it is 
 longer. During the whole of this time, and also 
 as a second-class captain, you cannot do without a 
 monthly allowance, which nobody can promise 
 you for so long a time. Meanwhile the charm of 
 a soldier's life will vanish, if you liave to exercise 
 recruits year after year in a little country town. 
 For those young men who have the capabilities 
 and the means of studying, and the latter could 
 be promised you for a reasonable length of time, 
 other professions offer far better prospects than the 
 Military, especially in a small country like yours. 
 If you finish your studies soon, the universal 
 esteem which your father enjoys and his position 
 there, will smooth your path. 
 
 If you spent the first year of your studies at the 
 Berlin University, I should probably still be there. 
 Student life in Berlin is quieter and not so rough 
 as in many other places, and you can really read 
 there. Later you would have to go to the 
 university of your own country.
 
 To WiLIIELM VON MOLTKE. 1 65 
 
 After all these considerations I cannot advise you 
 to join the Army. 
 
 If, in three years' time, you are physically 
 strong and healthy, and if a war is likely to break 
 out, then we can consider the question again. The 
 time spent on learning will not be lost, and will be 
 repaid by exceptional promotion, only obtainable 
 in our Army by a thorough and general education. 
 Consider this, pursue your studies with diligence, 
 take care of your health, not by coddling yourself, 
 but by an active and careful life, and God will do 
 the rest. This is my advice in this matter. 
 
 My kind regards to your Herr Professor. Re- 
 member kindly your well-meaning Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, Nov. 28th, 1866. 
 My dear AVilhelm, 
 
 I saw you gazetted as an Ensign in the 
 " Militiir Wochenblatt." It is important that you 
 should be made an officer as soon as possible now. 
 A series of short special courses of instruction 
 will be held for aU Ensigns, who have joined the 
 Army since the month of May, this year. They
 
 1 66 Selections from Letters 
 
 were intended to be commenced on April 1st, 1867, 
 but now it has been settled that they will begin on 
 January 1st. 
 
 As you have studied a year at a Prussian Uni- 
 versity, it will not be necessary for you to join such 
 a course, but you can prepare privately, and by 
 passing the examination for an officer earlier, you 
 will gain time. But you must have the required 
 knowledge and experience in practical service. 
 At all events, even in case you pass the examina- 
 tion, you will have to do more practical service 
 before the regiment can propose your nomination 
 as an officer. It is important that before April or 
 even January you should have a course of cavalry 
 training, to which you must pay the greatest atten- 
 tion. If you think then that you can prepare your- 
 self by private studies for the officers' examination 
 in a shorter time than the length of the courses of 
 instruction, you shall be provided with the neces- 
 sary means. I enclose the Rules to-day, that you 
 may know what is required. 
 
 At all events, it will be a good thing to begin to 
 prepare at once, no matter whether you decide for 
 private study or for the military school. I suppose
 
 To WiLHELM VON MoLTKE. 1 67 
 
 you will have an liour to spare every day for this 
 preparation. Of course your practical military duty 
 must be considered the principal thing. I shall 
 send you the necessary instruction books and maps, 
 as it is not likely you Avill be able to procure them 
 at Kreutzburg. 
 
 With your general information, I think it will 
 not take you a very long time to acquire the neces- 
 sary military knowledge. But some private in- 
 struction will probably be necessary, and this you 
 will receive best in Berlin. I will therefore ask 
 your Rcgiments-Commandeur to give you leave to 
 come here when the course of instruction begins at 
 the new Military School. The granting of this 
 leave will depend upon your progress in the prac- 
 tical service. The length of time which you Avill 
 require for your preparation depends upon the 
 amount of work you can do during the next few 
 months. In every respect it is desirable to shorten 
 the time as much as possible, and it lies with you 
 and is in your own interest to do this. 
 
 It was a great pleasure to me to learn that your 
 Captain is satisfied with you in every way, and 
 that only a few difiiculties on account of your
 
 i6S Selections from Letters 
 
 great height, have to be overcome. I shall send 
 you your allowance for the first quarter punctually 
 on January 1st, but if you are in any difficulties 
 on account of the unusual expenses of last summer, 
 you must let me know. . . . 
 
 With best love from Marie, 
 
 Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, December 7th, 1866. 
 
 My dear Wilhelm, 
 
 . . . Believe me that he who does not learn 
 to do with little when young, will not have enough 
 with much when old. . . . Only he is rich who 
 improves his circumstances ; he Avhose income in- 
 creases, but whose requirements do so at the same 
 rate, will be proportionably poor. It is very 
 important for you to learn to be a good manager, 
 as you will probably be the chief support of your 
 brothers and sisters. 
 
 It is good for you to be much on duty, and I am 
 glad that youUike it, too. . . . 
 
 At your age, and in every other respect, it is
 
 To WiLHELM VON MOLTKE. 1 69 
 
 very desirable tliat you should soon be made an 
 officer. 
 
 You will receive the books necessary for your 
 preparation in a few days. See how much you 
 can study without neglecting your duty, but re- 
 member the lesson of an old professor, who said, 
 " Only with a pen in hand can one study to advan- 
 tage." 
 
 When you think that you are far enough ad- 
 vanced in your private preparation, you must let 
 me know, so that after a short course at Berlin, you 
 may send in your name for the examination. I 
 am inclined to think that you might try for the 
 examination which takes place on April 1st. 
 Thus you can continue your duty all through 
 January, which is of great importance, especially 
 your riding. 
 
 It requires a good deal of practice to learn all 
 that really makes a good rider. One soon gets 
 accustomed to one's own horse ; it is better to try 
 diiFerent horses. Your browny has had heavy 
 rations, and if she is not used too much at present, 
 she will soon be round and fat again, and smootli 
 when spring comes, if you spare her a little when
 
 170 Selections from Letters 
 
 she changes her coat and give her a few linseed 
 cakes. I did not object to her action, much de- 
 pends on your seat. It is true that her trot is 
 rather jolting, but she is easily handled. 
 
 As soon as your father can find a substitute, he 
 will go to Algiers and stay there for five months, 
 or he may remain the latter part of the time in 
 Southern Switzerland. Your mother will not be 
 able to accompany him, as she wishes to remain 
 with the children, but Uncle Fritz will go instead 
 of her. He has retired as, no doubt, you already 
 know, and receives a good pension, and the third 
 Class of the Kronen Order has been conferred upon 
 him. 
 
 Aunt Marie sends her love. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, Dec. 23rd, 186G. 
 My dear Wilhelm, 
 
 If, in future, anybody should offer to pay 
 your bills — which, however, is not likely to happen 
 often — I should advise you not to let him wait a 
 fortnight for an answer. ... . It would be more
 
 To WiLHELM VON MOLTKE. I71 
 
 polite and also more prudent to accept at once. 
 Though I am not " Tetcnreiter " of the second 
 division, I have a good deal of business on hand, 
 and no time left for unnecessary letters, but I can 
 always find a quarter of an hour for a necessary 
 communication. 
 
 I see from your letter, dated Friday, 20th 
 (meant to be the 21st), that you have had some 
 extra expenses this year caused by special circum- 
 stances. Besides that, you lent money when it was 
 not quite necessary. Polonius warns his son against 
 being a lender, because by lending one often loses 
 a friend. The right thing would have been to 
 have said at once that your circumstances would 
 not allow you to help others with money ; only he 
 is allowed to be generous who can be so at his 
 own expense. As young lieutenants are not very 
 much in the habit of paying back money they 
 have boiTowed, for the simple reason that they 
 have not got it, both items make the sum you 
 name. . . . 
 
 He who spends a shilling more than he possesses 
 is always a poor man, no matter if he has an allow- 
 ance of 400 or 4000 thalcrs.
 
 172 
 
 Selections from Letters 
 
 You say nothing in your letter about ^vlien you 
 think you will be Avell enough prepared, after 
 having received the certificate in practical service, 
 to begin youi' private tuition here in Berlin ; and 
 to send in your name for the examination of officers. 
 It will be for you to decide, but it is also to your 
 OAvn interest not to delay the matter, for after the 
 course in the Military School is finished, hundreds 
 of officers will join again, who would be your 
 seniors in the Army. ... 
 
 Marie sends her best love, and wishes you a 
 happy New Year, in which joins. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Creisau, June 20th, 1878. 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 It would be a pity if Ella and you could 
 not be here together for some time during the 
 summer. It is lovely now. The two acacias 
 in front of the house are covered with blossom, 
 and the roses too are in full bloom. There are 
 strawberries in abundance, and we have young 
 green peas. The new road where you and I
 
 To WiLHELM VON MoLTKE. 1 73 
 
 walked through the thick brushwood in the 
 " Langer Busch," has l^een still further improved 
 during the last fortnight by nine workmen, who 
 have cut it five feet deeper in some places, and 
 have filled in the holes with soil ; so that one can 
 now drive up at a trot. I am thinking of making 
 a better connection to the upper entrance from 
 the elm-trees, but in order to do so I shall first 
 have to buy a piece of land. 
 
 I suppose you will be able to obtain a short 
 leave, as matters are quieting down again in 
 Berlin. Fritz will, very likely, also spend his 
 summer holidays here ; and you will both be 
 welcome. . . . 
 
 Under present circumstances, as it is of great 
 consequence to pass the important laws concern- 
 ing social democracy and reform of customs 
 (monopoly of tobacco, etc.), I cannot refuse the 
 offer, which I have received, to stand for two 
 particularly troublesome seats, at Heydekrug and 
 Teltow-Storkow. My only hope is that I may be 
 defeated in both places. . . . 
 
 I wonder if the two Conservative parties, or 
 rather the slight divisions, will be prudent enough
 
 174 Selections from Letters 
 
 not to work against each other ; if they do so, 
 
 special committee meetings are of no use. 
 
 With hearty love, 
 
 Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Creisau, August 14th, 1878. 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 I have a great wish to read the life of 
 Jesus, by Strauss, but I have also a kind of fear 
 Avhich has detained me from it up to now. I have 
 not much time for reading, except the wretched 
 newspapers. I have all kinds of work to do, and 
 I spend much time out-of-doors. In the country 
 there are always all kinds of occupations, and it 
 is so beautiful here, wherever one turns. The 
 carriage has been ordered. Farewell. 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Gastem, August 18th, 1882. 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 We must send some news to your hermi- 
 tage, from the clouds in which we live. When
 
 To WiLHELM VON MOLTKE. 1 75 
 
 you have a clouded sky in the valley, it is raining 
 up here, or snowing on the summits of the 
 mountains. "We have several times been obliged 
 to have a fire in our rooms. To-day, on the birth- 
 day of his Apostolic Majesty, all is wrapt in fog 
 and rain clouds, but we shall soon be consoled 
 by High Mass and the Te Deum at which we 
 have to appear in full uniform. In spite of the bad 
 weather, there has not l^een a single day without 
 some hours in which we could enjoy this beautiful 
 coimtry. There is one splendid path which leads 
 along the hills up to beautiful water- falls. With 
 my so-called asthma, really heart disease, I have 
 to be satisfied with looking down into the wide 
 valley, while Helmuth climbs up to the tops of 
 the mountains, and the high plains. I intend to 
 leave the day after to-morrow ; I shall then have had 
 eighteen baths ; I am glad of it, for after all, this 
 place, like most watering-places, is a beautiful, 
 but most tedious prison, to which one has been 
 condemned for three Aveeks. I shall travel for a 
 week in Switzerland, first to Salzburg, Berchtes- 
 gaden, Konigssee, etc. ; but it depends upon the 
 weather, for if it continues raining like this, there is
 
 1/6 Selections from Letters 
 
 no pleasure. If one could only know beforehand ! 
 but the weather cannot even be foretold by 
 Klinkerfues' clever arts. . . . 
 
 The bell is ring^ins;. Farewell. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 San Remo, March 28th, 1885. 
 Dear "Wilhelm, 
 
 I send you a hearty greeting from this 
 neighbourhood which you know well. Living is 
 not cheap here, but everything is good. Con- 
 trary to all expectations, and in spite of the much 
 praised climate, it is very cold here ; out-of-doors 
 and walking it is beautiful and sunny, but in the 
 rooms a temperature of twelve degrees R. is very 
 uncomfortable. We take long walks in the morn- 
 ings and afternoons. Very cleverly planned high- 
 roads wind far up the mountains ; but I have left 
 Helmuth to climb up your Madonna della " Garde 
 du corps," by himself; I move about more on 
 level ground, between the country-houses and the 
 palaces of hotels, on the Gorso di levante and 
 ponente. Vegetation is still backward ; the pear
 
 To WiLIIELM VON MOLTKE. 177 
 
 and cherry-trees are in blossom, but there are not 
 many of them. Roses, which grow here in great 
 numbers, are just ready to burst, and there is a 
 great abundance of mignonette, violets, wall- 
 flower and heliotrope. But the grey tints of the 
 olive and evergreen-oak are not to be compared 
 with the fresh green of a meadow in Germany, or 
 the first foliage of a forest of beeches. 
 
 The sea is always beautiful, whether it beat^ 
 against the Molo or splashes quietly on the 
 beautifid Quai dell a Imperatrice. Yesterday 
 we drove to Ospedaletti, near Cape Nero ; the big 
 hotel and the palace-like casino, which we saw 
 being built two years ago, are now completed ; 
 the latter evidently in the hope of opening gam- 
 bling tables like those at Monte Carlo. There was 
 nobody to be seen there beside loitering porters 
 and waiters. The whole establishment gives one the 
 impression of a complete swindle and failure. The 
 Italian papers say that I am at Nice, and that the 
 police are looking out for me there. Next week 
 I think of going to Bordighera and to Monaco, 
 by La Turbia. And now, with best love to Ella 
 and the children, your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 17S Selections from Letters 
 
 Berlin, March 28th, 1887. 
 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 The critical month of A^Dril has come, 
 without M. Boulanger having begun his march 
 to Berlin ; perhaps the weather is too bad, and 
 possibly I may j^ass another summer at 
 Creisau. . . . 
 
 The exertion on his birthday has been too much 
 for the Emperor after all. Ninety-five relations 
 were; invited to the family dinner. Neither the 
 Generals nor the Court were received this time 
 for their congratulations, only Bismarck and I 
 were summoned. I received a particularly 
 gracious letter, and the only order that had not 
 already been conferred on me, the Grand Cross of 
 the Hohenzollem set in diamonds. . . . 
 
 If peace continues, I hope that we shall meet 
 
 at Creisau. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, March 26th, 1888. 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 All newspapers have had such detailed 
 reports about the death of the Emperor William,
 
 To WiLHELM VON MoLTRE. I 79 
 
 that I have nothino: more to add. The new 
 Master of the country does not show any external 
 signs of his severe illness. He has not yet shown 
 himself in public, and as long as we have this 
 disagreeable cold weather, he will not be allowed 
 to leave the warmed rooms. How long will he be 
 able to bear the burden of business that must 
 come on all sides ! . . . 
 
 I hope you are all well. Has Muthi been 
 removed, or have his masters called da capo at his 
 examination ? 
 
 I do not yet know if M. Boulanger will allow 
 me to spend another summer at Creisau. . . . 
 
 With best love. Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, January 4th, 1890. 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 I see, from a kind letter of Ella's, that 
 your family will meet again at Breslau on the 5th 
 inst; but that Muthi will have to return very 
 soon to Rossleben, and Leno to Leipsic. I wrote 
 to her immediately after Christmas, and sent her 
 
 N 2
 
 i8o Selections from Letters 
 
 a parcel to Breslau, with a shawl and a pair of fur 
 gloves. She is my best correspondent, and has 
 sent me a silk handkerchief bought with her small 
 pocket-money ; it is the finest I have. Muthi tells 
 me that his report is not as good as he hoped, but 
 I see an improvement in the writing and the style 
 of his epistles. . . . 
 
 I thank Jochen and Margarete for their poetical 
 effusions. Jochen Peter, Schwerenother — und 
 Margrete schreib ich spoter 
 
 The Emperor has given me a beautiful golden 
 box for Christmas. Henry has been here ; and we 
 had much music. But enough now ; bestlove from 
 all of us. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, January 11th, 1890. 
 Deak Wilhelm, 
 
 . . . From personal experience I cannot 
 reconmiend Muthi's remaining longer at a "pen- 
 sion." I, myself, got into a great deal of mischief 
 when I was with my pastors. A boy, brought up 
 in that way, learns many things unnecessary for his 
 scientific education, and other things he is expected
 
 To WiLHELM VON MOLTKE. iSl 
 
 to know arc neglected. If, later on, he joins a 
 gymnasium,^ he is often placed two or three forms 
 lower than was expected. But I sliould think 
 that Muthi has character enough not to be easily- 
 tempted to be mischievous, though he would meet 
 with temptations of that kind in every school. 
 Every boy must find the right way for himself, 
 later on in life they will see much more evil. I 
 think it would be much better to keep him at home 
 and to send him to the gymnasium at Breslau, 
 than to leave him with other people. Leno is 
 sure to give you nothing but pleasure. . . . 
 
 We have just followed the good old Empress to 
 the grave from the Schlosskapelle to the Friedens- 
 allee ; you will see the reports about it in the 
 papers. Our united love to Ella. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, March 7th, 1890. 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 I herewith return the letter of Master 
 Herr Jenrich. It will be a severe but salutary 
 punishment for the naughty boy not to be allowed 
 
 ' Boys' schools for the classical side.
 
 1 82 Selections from Letters 
 
 to come home for the holidays. I hope the measure 
 will be successful. He is not wanting in capabili- 
 ties and cleverness, the latter quality he shows 
 especially in his mischief. But he is a good, 
 straightforward boy, and I hope we shall see him 
 again in the summer holidays. 
 
 Leno, my diligent correspondent, tells me that 
 Ella will pay her a visit at Leipsic with little 
 Monica ; it will comfort her for not being able to 
 go home. It will not be easy to find a horse for 
 Ludwig's weight ; you will perhaps have to look 
 for it in the Zoological Gardens. ... 
 
 We are all well here. 'Yesterday all the children 
 
 went to the Bellevue garden to look for Easter 
 
 eggs. The Emperor was very active in hiding a 
 
 quantity of them in the bushes, and the Empress 
 
 played at " cat and mouse " with the little party, 
 
 who partook of chocolate afterwards and came 
 
 home laden with eggs, sweets and flowers. The 
 
 family life at Court is charming ; may God 
 preserve it so ! 
 
 The Reichstag will not meet before May. As I am 
 
 Senior President I have to open it, and I am curious 
 
 to see what they will say to the new and consider-
 
 To WiLHELM VON MOLTKE. 1 83 
 
 able military demands. Very likely the Conserva- 
 tive party will give up the presidency and leave it to 
 the Centre ^ to settle the Social Democrats, for they 
 introduced them into the House. They will now 
 have to fulfil their promises : Reduction of all high 
 prices, the abolition of all customs, partial dis- 
 armament, etc. Their eyes will not be opened till 
 the nation has experienced severe shocks. The 
 preludes have already begun at Kopenick and by 
 the boycotting at Blumbcrg. It seems incredible 
 that in Berlin, a city of more than a million in- 
 habitants, who have'iauch to lose, only Democrats 
 have been elected, ^d at Dantzic, Konigsberg 
 and Breslau the same thilig has occurred ! 
 We all send our love. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, March 26th, 1891. 
 Dear Wilhelm, 
 
 You are right in leaving Muthi at school at 
 Rossleben. Though the course of instruction at 
 the school for cadets permits the entering on any 
 
 ^ Ivomfsn Catliolics.
 
 184 Selections from Letters, Etc. 
 
 career, when once the boys are tliere, they almost 
 all become officers. I believe, however, without 
 A^ishing it, that Muthi will also leave Rossleben, 
 to enter that career. I should be glad if he took 
 an interest in agriculture. In that case he would 
 have to go through a course in the Agricul- 
 tural Academy here. We will make up for the 
 clothes he has grown out of, when he comes to 
 Creisau during the summer holidays. When you 
 see him, give him my thanks for his letter from 
 Bankau ; I hope, that after he has been moved to 
 "Tercia" as he spells it, he will also get to 
 " Tertia." ... 
 
 You may well ask if spring will ever come this 
 year. We, too, have a continual change of rain, 
 snow, dirt and wind. And I am to go with His 
 Majesty, on April 1st, to join the " Carola " in the 
 neighbourhood of Fakkebjerg (Langeland). Oh, 
 the sea-sickness we must expect after the rich 
 banquet given by the senate of Lubeck ! 
 
 Farewell ; all of us send our love. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 Selections from Letters to the Children 
 of his Nephew, Wilhelm von Moltke. 
 
 Creisau, Oct. 27th, 1876. 
 Dear Lenore, 
 
 I have duly received your letter of the 
 25th inst. Give your papa and mamma my thanks 
 for their kind wishes ; I shall tell them in a few 
 days aU that yoiu' " long " uncles are too lazy to 
 write. Give my love to Joachim, when he arrives 
 at last, after having unfairly missed your birthday 
 as well as mine.^ 
 
 I shall keep your autograph, and hope that it 
 may be shown to you again on your seventy-seventh 
 birthday. Your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 ' This son was born on Oct. 30th, and was to be called 
 Joachim, according to the Field- Marshal's wish, but after all 
 he was christened Helmuth, after his uncle. A younger 
 brother was afterwards called Joachim.
 
 1 86 Selections from Letters 
 
 Written in the year 1883. 
 
 My dear boy (Muthi), 
 
 You have written mc such a beautiful letter 
 that you shall have one too from me. 
 
 If you come to Creisau next summer and your 
 old Opapa is still alive, I shall give you another 
 Persian arrow ^ for your bow. 
 
 Your parents, sisters, and brothers will soon 
 return now to Charlottenburg, and then it will not 
 be so lonely for you. And in the winter I shall 
 often come to sec you again. Christmas wiU soon 
 be here, and who knows what Father Christmas 
 will bring ? Be punctual and diligent at school, 
 and remember your 
 
 Opapa. 
 
 Creisau, in the autumn, 1888. 
 Dear Lenore, 
 
 I thank you for your kind letter. I am 
 glad that your foot is well again, ... I was quite 
 surprised to see how pretty the country near 
 
 ^ The first, which the Field- Marshal had brought from his 
 campaign in Asia Minor, had been shot away.
 
 To Children of Wilhelm von Moltke. 187 
 
 Leipsic is, the Rosenau and from there along the 
 Plcisse is lovely. Are you " Backfische " (bread- 
 and-butter misses) allowed to walk there some- 
 times ? 
 
 I suppose your father is still at the manoBuvres 
 and will not see your new home till his return. I 
 hear it is very roomy and pretty, but is situated 
 extremely high. 
 
 Uncle Helmuth has gone to Bankau to shoot a 
 stag, if one will be so kind as to show himself. 
 
 We have been flooded four times this year; 
 much damage was done in the park, but when you 
 come again, everything shall be in order. 
 
 Farewell, and remember your 
 
 Opapa. 
 
 Creisau, October 29th, 1889. 
 My dear Helmuth, 
 
 I send you five marks, for this time, so 
 that you may have your watch repaired. I 
 suppose there is a watchmaker at Rossleben, 
 if not, take it with you at Christmas to Breslau. 
 But another time you ought to manage your
 
 1 88 Selections from Letters 
 
 pocket-money better, and if you have no money, 
 you must not spoil your watch by over-winding 
 it. 
 
 I thank you for your good wishes for my birth- 
 day. Your papa has just left here. All your 
 uncles were here for the great shooting party, 
 when we killed 175 hares, 20 pheasants, 5 roe-deer 
 and 1 owl. 
 
 Adieu ; your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 Berlin, December 24th, 1889. 
 Dear Lend, 
 
 Many thanks for your nice letter and the 
 beautiful handkerchief. 
 
 Herewith I send you something to keep you 
 warm when skating. I promise you ice and snow 
 in abundance. 
 
 Shall you have to return to Leipzic ? I thought 
 the boarding school had finished you. 
 
 Much love from all of us ; especially from your 
 old Uncle 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 To Children of Wilhelm von Moltke. 189 
 
 Crcisau, October 22nd, 1890. 
 
 My dear Helmuth, 
 
 I have sent you the twenty marks that you 
 may learn in time how to manage money.^ If you 
 invested the whole amount in the savings bank, 
 you would be a miser ; if you spent it in a short 
 time, you would be a spendthrift ; it is best to 
 choose a golden medium. 
 
 If money is given to you as a present — later on 
 you wiU have to gain it yourself — you are justified 
 in aUoAving yourself some pleasures, but it is also 
 prudent to save for the future. 
 
 As you manage these twenty marks, you will 
 have to manage larger sums later on. He who 
 spends all he has, will never get on, he who spends 
 more, wiU become a beggar or a swindler. 
 
 I am afraid you wiU not be able to come to 
 Berlin as you would have to miss your lessons, or 
 you would be very welcome. The more diligently 
 you learn, the sooner you will have done with the 
 constraint of school life. 
 
 With hearty love from us aU, your Opapa, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 ^ The great-nephew had asked his advice as to the best way 
 of spending the twenty marks.
 
 190 Selections from Letters, Etc. 
 
 Berlin, December 26th, 1890. 
 Dear Lend, 
 
 I thank you for your nice letter, and wish 
 
 you a happy New Year too. 
 
 I should much like to come to your confirmation, 
 but at my age one cannot make plans a long time 
 in advance. I suppose as " Queen in the sleeping 
 beauty," you will be a head taller than all your 
 subjects, like King Saul who was a head taller than 
 any of the nation. 
 
 I hope the " Yule-clapp " brought you some- 
 thing pretty the day before yesterday. 
 
 As your grandparents are going to spend the 
 summer at Dresden, it will be easy for you to see 
 them ; but in the summer you must come to 
 Creisau to your Opapa, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 In Lenore's album, first page : 
 May all the pages in this book be filled with 
 pleasant remembrances. 
 Berlin, January 7th, 1891. 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 Opapa.
 
 Selections from Letters to l^au Marie 
 von Kulmiz nee Von Moltke, Sister 
 of Wilhelm von Moltke. 
 
 Berlin, December 25th, 1883. 
 
 Dear Marie, 
 
 What clever animals foxes are ! They 
 always look for the place where I stand when they 
 are hunted, because they know that this is the 
 easiest way of escape ; only the one which is lying 
 at my feet has been specially unlucky. A bad 
 shot is all the more pleased if he succeeds for once, 
 and therefore I look with just pride upon your 
 pretty and thoughtful present,^ and thank you 
 very much, that you have so kindly thought of 
 me. . . . 
 
 With best wishes and much love to all your 
 people, your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth. 
 
 ^ The stuffed fox.
 
 192 Selections from Letters 
 
 Berlin, December 26th, 1884. 
 
 Many thanks, dear Marie, for having thought 
 of all of us so kindly at Christmas. Your gifts 
 were adorning everybody's table. I will leave it to 
 Eliza to give you details of all presents. I am 
 very much pleased with the charming and very 
 successful photograph of the three little " Druvii- 
 pfel." ^ The baby looks greatly excited at what 
 is going to take place, Anne Marie's expression 
 is that of careful observation, but Margarethe 
 looks above their heads quite full of understanding. 
 The clever weapon against the flies answers a great 
 need, but it will have to be used carefully, or every 
 fly might cost a window-pane. But it is excellent 
 for clapping on the table. ... 
 
 Muthi admired his bicycle so much, that he 
 forgot all his other gifts. After having tumbled 
 off several times, he succeeded, after a little prac- 
 tice, in riding round the table. The number of 
 presents rather disturbs the enjoyment of the 
 children ; and the quality does not come into con- 
 sideration. Their special delight amongst the 
 
 * A kind of little apples, term applied to rosy-cheeked 
 children.
 
 To Frau Marie von Kulmiz. 193 
 
 many costly things they had, was a wheelbarrow 
 which had cost sixpence. 
 
 I received a fine majolica from the Emperor, 
 with Frederick the Great's portrait by Camphausen ; 
 I am sending it to Creisau. 
 
 With much love to Kulmiz and best wishes for 
 the coming New Year, your Uncle 
 
 Helmuth.
 
 II. 
 
 Letters to his Friends. 
 
 2
 
 To His Royal Highness the Crown 
 Prince Albert of Saxony. 
 
 Berlin, May 27th, 1871. 
 I RECEIVED Your Royal Highness' gracious letter 
 of the 22nd inst., last night, and I have informed 
 His Majesty the Emperor to-day at an audience, of 
 the different points of its contents. 
 
 It is His Majesty's intention to invite Youi* 
 Royal Highness to the festivities connected with 
 the entrance of the troops here, and before June 
 16th to give orders as to the command of the 
 troops which are to remain in France. 
 
 In a few days the Chief Command of the First 
 Army will be dissolved ; the first and eighth Army- 
 Corps will be placed under Your Royal Highness' 
 command, to cover the departure of the Garde du 
 corps from Paris. The removal of these corps 
 would not mean a concentration, but they would
 
 tqS Selections from Letters, Etc. 
 
 be in cantonnements in the direction of the return 
 march. Rouen and Amiens must, however, remain 
 occupied, till the French Government is able to 
 keep a garrison in these cities. 
 
 From yesterday's telegrams Your Royal High- 
 ness will have leamt that at least one of the Royal 
 Saxon divisions will immediately follow the first 
 echelon of the returning army. Likewise the 2nd 
 Royal Bavarian corps by special agreement 
 arranged by the Royal Bavarian Ministry of 
 War. 
 
 . Some of the contingents, not the Prussian, go 
 home entirely, and the greater portion of the 
 others, while two-thirds of the Prussian corps will 
 remain in France. 
 
 Will Your Royal Highness allow me to commend 
 myself to Your gracious benevolence ? With pro- 
 found respect, I remain. 
 
 Your Royal Highness' devoted servant, 
 Count Moltke, 
 General of the Lifantry.
 
 Letters exchanged between his Friends 
 and himself while in the East. 
 
 The following letters have been kindly placed at our disposal 
 by the daughter of Major-General Fischer, wife of the Wirk. 
 liche Geheime Kriegsrat KoUner. To letters written to 
 Moltke others have been added which were likewise found in 
 the posthumous papers of General Fischer, such as those written 
 by the Freiherr von Vincke to his friend Fischer, referring to 
 Moltke's stay in Turkey, as well as valuable details about this 
 period, so important in the Field-Marshal's life. 
 
 The following will serve as further explanation : — Fischer, 
 when seventeen years old, took part in the campaign of 1815 
 as a volunteer in the rifle corps and afterwards remained in the 
 Army. He was an officer of the Engineers ; in 1834 he was ap- 
 pointed to the General Staff as captain, and was in 1837, with 
 Captain Freiherr von Vincke (Olbendorf) of the General Staff, and 
 Captain von Muhlbach of the Engineers, sent to Constantinople 
 for the organization and training of the Turkish Army. They 
 arrived there on October 28th, and joined Moltke, who had been 
 there for more than a year. Freiherr von Yincke, as senior 
 officer, took the principal command, and the four Prussian officers 
 began their arduous task, often hindered in a really incredible 
 manner, through want of judgment, laziness and mistrust, with 
 such Zealand technical knowledge, that their work there is still 
 highly thought of, and gives valuable testimony to the in-
 
 200 Selections from Letters 
 
 tellectual military education of the Prussian officers of the 
 General Staff at that time. At first they worked together at 
 Constantinople. In the beginning of April, 1838, Fischer was 
 ordered by the Sultan to Asia Minor to Mushir Hadji Ali, 
 Pasha of Koniah, to lend his help in organizing the troops, and 
 especially in improving the fortifications of the Taurus passes. 
 The numerous journeys Avhich he undertook for these purposes 
 in southern and south-eastern Asia Minor were useful for his 
 geographical researches and the surveys of these countries. 
 The map of Asia Minor and Turkish Armenia, published later 
 by Moltke, Vincke, Kiepert, and himself, shows his knowledge, 
 and the trouble which he took with this work, of such import- 
 ance to science. However, Fischer's health soon broke down 
 in the unfavourable climate, and he was obliged to return to 
 Constantinople in January, 1839, but getting no better there, 
 in spite of the greatest care of Frau von Vincke, he returned in 
 May of the same year to his fatherland. He was appointed 
 officer of the General Staff, and instructor at the War 
 School ; and in 1847 he was made Chief of the General Staff 
 of the Vllth Army Corps ; 1848, Director of the General War 
 Department in the Ministry of War ; and in February, 1849^, 
 he was attached as Military Attendant to Prince Frederick 
 William, later His Majesty Emperor Frederick. When the 
 Prince had finished his studies at the University, Fischer was, 
 in 1852, nominated "Inspecteur of the third Engineer Inspec- 
 tion" at Coblentz, where ho died in 1857. 
 
 Some weeks before Fischer's journey from Constantinople to 
 Koniah, Moltke and Miihlbach had been sent with similar 
 commissions to Hafiz Pasha, the Commander-in-Chief of the 
 Turkish Army of the Taurus, whose headquarters were then at 
 Messre, near Charput in Kurdistan. They took part in all the 
 movements of this army, as Moltke has described them in hi« 
 " Brief e iiber Zustiinde und Begebenheiten in der Turkey " up 
 to the unfortunate battle of Nisib on the 24th of June, 1839,
 
 To His Friends. 201 
 
 ■which was undertaken against Moltke's advice. With them 
 was Captain Laue of the Artillery. Ho had retired from the 
 Prussian Army to enter the Turkish service independently. 
 After the battle the three friends were involved in the flight of 
 the totally demoralized Turkish Army, but they fortunately 
 met Vincke, on the 4th of July, at Albistan, twenty miles 
 north of Nisib. 
 
 Vincke had gone, in December, 1838, by order of the Sultan, 
 to Angora to assist the Mushir Izzet Mehmed Pasha in the or- 
 ganization of an army-corps, which was principally composed of 
 militia (redifs). Contrary to Vincke's advice, Izzet Pasha led 
 his corps to join the army Avhich was beaten at Nisib. During 
 the whole of the march, which was conducted in the most 
 unskilful manner, Vincke tried with all his might to prevent 
 the misfortune which he foresaw, but he was most rudely 
 insulted by the Pasha, and therefore went with Moltke and 
 MUhlbach to Hafiz Pasha, who had retreated as far as Malatia 
 (about twenty German miles east of Albistan) where, nnpur- 
 sued by the Egyptians, he could leisurely reassemble his army, 
 and await reinforcements. But meanwhile the Army Corps of 
 Izzet Pasha, driven to extremities by hunger, want and 
 exertion, were entirely disbanded without having even seen 
 the enemy. The four Prussian officers, who had been politely 
 
 ^ Laue had been (Premier) Lieutenant in the Horse 
 Artillery ; in 1829 he entered the Turkish Service for the first 
 time, but he returned in 1831, and was attached to the militia. 
 In 1837 he again went to Turkey, and remained there with the 
 army in Asia Minor till 1841, when he returned a second time 
 to his own country, and as Major was attached to the General 
 Staff, Later on he was personal aide-de-camp to the Prince of 
 Prussia (His Majesty Emperor William I.), after that Governor 
 of Saarlouis, He left the army in 1857 as Major-General, 
 In 1858 he was knighted, and died in 1862,
 
 202 Selections from Letters 
 
 received by Hafiz Pasha, remained some days at Asbusu, near 
 Malatia, when the news of the Sultan Mahmoud's death, and 
 the succession to the throne of Abdul Medshid arrived. The 
 ambassador of the new Sultan brought the officers permission to 
 return to Constantinople. This tiring and exciting journey has 
 been vividly described by Moltke in his letters from Turkey. 
 At Constantinople Moltke, Miihlbacli, and Vincke, found orders 
 awaiting them from their King, to return to Prussia, and on 
 September 9th, 1839, they left Constantinople, after having 
 concluded their business there. 
 
 Bujukdere, February 28tli, 1837. 
 
 Deak Fischer,^ 
 
 I have just received your kind letter of the 
 31st ult., and hasten to answer it at once by to- 
 day's post. You are wrong in believing that I am 
 not looking forward to your coming with great 
 joy. I never find it hard to subordinate myself 
 to those I esteem, and it is with great impatience 
 that I await the arrival of two such dear comrades 
 as you and Vincke. 
 
 I had heard of your orders and also of 
 Miihlbach's, but not of Vincke's. I willingly give 
 up the Chief Command of our Uttle colony — a 
 new East Prussia — though I have had the un- 
 
 ^ Major-General Fischer.
 
 To His Friends. 203 
 
 disputed enjoyment of it up to the present. There 
 is not much glory to be won here. 
 
 It is a satisfaction to me to know that my 
 correspondence with our Chief, perhaps also the 
 communications I made from time to time to 
 Forstncr, Monts, Borcke, and Prittwitz, are known 
 to you. It will have prepared you in some 
 measure ; you will have learned by it that it is 
 possible to occupy an apparently very important 
 and influential position, and at the same time to 
 be without influence and importance. This feeling 
 of uselessness, in a place where one might be of 
 the greatest use, has also determined me several 
 times to ask for my recall. In other respects the 
 joui'ney is very interesting, and life here is very 
 pleasant. Your presence here will break the 
 monotony, and I hope that we shall all strive 
 unanimously to work for the common good. You 
 will soon see that here one has to press upon 
 people the things that are to their own advantage. 
 
 We were daily expecting the Russian steamer ; 
 she is still, however, lying frost-bound in the har- 
 bour of Odessa ; but with this strong south wind 
 must be here in a week. Count Konigsmark will
 
 204 Selections from Letters 
 
 embark in her a week after her arrival. There is 
 a fortnight's quarantine, and so Count Konigsmark 
 may be expected to arrive at Berhn in the be- 
 ginning of April. It seems as if they were 
 only awaiting his arrival to arrange your depar- 
 ture. About that time the Danube will be open 
 again, and as the steamers only take ten days 
 from Pressburg here, I hope to welcome you in 
 old Byzantium as early as the beginning of May. 
 I very much wish that Count Konigsmark would 
 return here again for the sake of the cause as well 
 as for our own. But it almost seems as if it were 
 intended to appoint another successor ; will you, 
 please, let me know what you may hear about it ? 
 
 Will you remember me to your wife, and tell 
 her, by way of consolation, that the plague, which 
 indeed was very serious here last year, may now 
 be considered extinct ? After such a severe out- 
 break there is generally a few years' cessation. 
 
 In regard to your outfit, I advise you to pro- 
 vide yourself with clothes, books, maps, etc., for 
 two years ; for everything here is very dear and 
 bad, and sometimes nothing at all is to be had. As 
 you will very likely go by steamer, you would do
 
 To His Friends. 205 
 
 well to bring your own saddle and harness. I have 
 bought one set of harness here for fifty florins, but 
 it is very second-rate. If you can manage it, it 
 would be most advantageous to you to start by 
 one of the first steamers, later on they do not 
 keep to their time ; and you might run the risk 
 of being landed for a fortnight in a miserable nest, 
 as I Avas. You will be able to procure the time- 
 table in Berlin, or you might write for it to the 
 office of the Steam Navigation Company in Vienna. 
 As the steamers on the Lower Danube only go 
 fortnightly, you must make out your route accord- 
 ingly from Pressburg. 
 
 By-the-bye ! Will you kindly inquire at Semlin 
 at the Steamship Company's Office for letters for 
 you ? there may be commissions which we should 
 be glad for you to do on your way. I shall be 
 anxious to hear what you think of Varna. Two 
 uniforms, even one, would be sufficient. It is one 
 of the anomalies in our position, that we smoke 
 the pipe with the serasJcler, and sit with him on 
 the sofa, while the Pashas squat on the floor. And 
 again in the ante-rooms, the pipe replenisher 
 neither rises from his seat when you pass, nor do
 
 2o6 Selections from Letters 
 
 the sentinels present arms to you. We shall pro- 
 bably have to appear in uniform on very few 
 occasions, and then the sentinels will receive special 
 orders beforehand. It would be a great advantage 
 to know Turkish well, but it would hardly be 
 worth while spending much time learning it, and 
 in the end understanding little of it. You know 
 what a drawback it is to speak a language badly. 
 And we are accompanied everywhere by drago- 
 mans. You would find it very useful to have 
 your 0"vvTi servant. If you bring your uniform 
 with you, it will also be necessary for me to have 
 mine ; and I should be much obliged to you, dear 
 Fischer, if you would allow your servant to take 
 care of it. I wiU gladly repay you any expenses 
 caused by it, with many thanks. As I feel sure 
 that you will undertake this trouble to oblige me, 
 I shall write to my cousin Ballhorn to send you a 
 new uniform for me. 
 
 I am very sorry that Monts and Borcke are 
 disappointed in their expectations. But I hope 
 to make room for at least one of them, for as I 
 shall have been here two years next November 
 my request to be recalled may be granted about
 
 To His Friends. 207 
 
 that time. Please to remember me to all com- 
 rades and friends. I hope you will Avrite often 
 before you leave, and I am anxiously looking for- 
 ward to further news from you and very im- 
 patiently to your arrival here. Au revoir, then ! 
 With sincere esteem and friendship, yours. 
 
 Von Moltke. 
 
 What does Major Brandt say to this affair ? and 
 what do their wives say ? 
 
 Count Konigsmark is bringing some reports 
 with him, which at the present moment may 
 interest you, for just now everything, even the 
 smallest matter, that refers to this country, must 
 be welcome. Remember me to Vincke when he 
 arrives, also to Forstner ; I ask him to comply 
 with any requests my cousin may make. 
 
 Vienna, November 14th, 1839. 
 Dear Fischer, 
 
 Your ^ two letters of this month have given 
 me much pleasure, they arrived when I was ill. 
 
 ' In tliis letter the friendly '' Du " is used, in the former, the 
 friends used the more formal " Sie." — [Note by translator,]
 
 2o8 Selections from Letters 
 
 Vincke will have told you that I am already- 
 better, and I am looking forward to seeing you 
 again soon and having a chat with you about our 
 Asiatic expeditions. You are right in calling me 
 an uncertain correspondent, for to you I have really 
 been so ; but journeys, iUness, correspondence Avith 
 Vincke, and who knows what else, prevented me 
 from writing, and even to-day I cannot get on. 
 Therefore we must wait tiU we meet. 
 
 I shall be obliged to you if you wiU kindly 
 make my compliments to our high Superior, and 
 remember me kindly to all comrades. 
 
 The invitations from your wife and yourself are 
 so kind and friendly, that I may easily be tempted 
 to accept them. 
 
 If I should be far enough advanced in my re- 
 covery to travel in the beginning of December, 
 I shall feel much inclined to go by Munich, 
 Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Hof, instead of travel- 
 ling through the monotonous plains of Bohemia 
 and Silesia. I do not yet know the former route. 
 
 Enough for to-day, dear Fischer ; my best com- 
 pliments to your wife. With sincere friendship, 
 your Von Moltke.
 
 To His Friends. 209 
 
 Not dated. (From the year 1841.) 
 Dear Fischer, 
 
 In your interesting pamphlet about rail- 
 ways, which I have read through several tLmcs 
 and always with increasing interest, and which is, 
 in fact, a small catechism on this subject, you say 
 on page 29 that an engine moving at the rate of 
 
 4 miles will draw 800 centners ^ 
 3 „ „ UOO „ 
 
 2 „ „ 2400 „ 
 
 with the expenditure of the same amount of 
 power. 
 
 Where has this statement been taken from ? is 
 it founded upon calculations or upon trial? It 
 seems so natural with steamers, as with everything 
 in mechanics, that power should be gained in the 
 same proportion as time is lost. Lindley asserts 
 (and also the people at Hamburg who firmly 
 believe in Lindley), that every engine is con- 
 structed for a certain speed and that it cannot 
 increase its power, even by going slower, because 
 the vapour escapes from the valve. I am sure 
 
 ^ 1 centner = 100 lbs.
 
 2IO Selections from Letters 
 
 this cannot be quite correct, but the proportion of 
 800:1400:2400 for 4:3:2 has surprised me 
 much. Resting on his assertion, Lindley rejects 
 all rise over 1 : 1000. And as we cannot avoid a 
 gradient of 1 : 300 in some places of our lines 
 without incurring enormous expenses, he asserts, 
 it is little better than a high-road, etc. Half 
 of his line runs along the banks of the Elbe 
 in districts subject to frequent inundations, where 
 favourable ascents are easily obtained ; his plans 
 are founded upon general truths, but nobody can 
 overlook that they incur an enormous expense. 
 The people at Hamburg allow that themselves, 
 but they are afraid when they hear of propor- 
 tions of 1 : 300, which they may suppose to be 
 like the balustrade at the Stintfang. You would 
 oblige me very much if you would let me know, as 
 soon as possible, where you have taken your note 
 from, and also what your opinion in the matter is. 
 We are so far advanced with our preliminary 
 work, that wo are thinking of laying it before 
 government next winter. 
 
 I am glad to tell you that your wife is well; I 
 have seen her and find her looking very well.
 
 To His Friends. 211 
 
 The news from Vincke is satisfactory. He was 
 obliged to stay behind at Vienna, as you may 
 have heard, and his wife, who had to go to Silesia, 
 joined him at Vienna. Our friend Laue has been 
 here a fortnight. His affairs are prospering; it 
 seems that Boyen is particularly interested in him, 
 and I think he Avill receive an aj^pointment as 
 major. He has not received the Nishan, and has 
 sent his decoration as Colonel to the seraskier, ask- 
 ing him for a receipt. 
 
 There is no other news. Remember me to 
 Borcke and Minutoli when you see them. Fare- 
 well, dear Fischer; please send me a few lines about 
 the subject mentioned in the beginning of this letter. 
 
 In true friendship, Your, 
 
 Von Moltke. 
 
 Magdeburg, Dec. 12th, 1854. 
 Dear Fischer, 
 
 I am glad that you have taken steps to 
 preserve our claims to the geographical know- 
 ledo^e of Asia Minor. All our discoveries have 
 been made use of in all the modern maps without 
 the source ever being mentioned. 
 
 p 2
 
 2 12 Selections from Letters 
 
 To push matters further, I have sent your letter 
 with enclosure of the 9th inst. to Vincke, who gives 
 the laws in Berlin. My time is much engaged 
 just now with the new plan of mobilization, 
 and Yincke is, in Berlin, in the right place, he 
 will not be lacking in real interest in the matter. 
 I do not doubt that all will be managed well. 
 
 The Russians thought to astonish all Europe, 
 and they might have been near enough in succeed- 
 ing;, ii the Turks had not taken matters into 
 their o"wn hands. And now it stands thus, that 
 it is impossible for Russia to succeed. The most 
 fortunate campaign would cost them 100,000 men 
 and would at least require a year. But with only 
 40,000 French and English soldiers at Adrianople 
 it will be difficult to gain the real object of the war. 
 I cannot imagine that the Russians will make the 
 attempt without the sovereignty in the Black Sea, 
 but the most pious Emperor has lent a religious 
 appearance to the enterprise, so that one can- 
 not see how he will come out with honour, and for 
 the Emperor Nicolas this is no small consideration. 
 I well believe that they would like to use us for 
 taking the chestnuts out of the fire. Russia is en-
 
 To His Friends. 213 
 
 gaged in the Caucasus and on the Danube, and must 
 guard St. Petersburg against an English fleet and 
 keep Poland in check. If we join Russia, we 
 must not count upon a single man from them. 
 Austria has to fight against Sardinia and the 
 revolution in Italy, and also to prevent a revo- 
 lution in Hungary ; we have the revolutions in 
 Baden and Hesse and a French Army in the 
 Rhine province. Perhaps the Russians would 
 then help us next year, and we should have to 
 imitate the " gratitude " of Austria. One thing is 
 certain, that for the present the alliance has been 
 declined, but it is not certain whether the Kreuz- 
 partei ^ and family alliances will not find a way of 
 adjusting matters, but in such a case it would be 
 wise to ffive an order of mobilization as soon as 
 
 o 
 
 the alliance is concluded. 
 
 It is possible that we may be sent again to the 
 East. But I should not like to go to the Russian 
 head-quarters at Bucharest. It would be a 
 wrong position after having held commissions from 
 the Porte, and, as for myself, I wish the honest 
 Mahomedans ever}^ success against the Muscovites. 
 
 ' Party represented by the Kreuz- Zeitung.
 
 2 14 Selections from Letters 
 
 How tliey are fighting! It shows that every 
 nation can be brave if the war is a real necessity. 
 
 The fact that the Turks are before Kalafat is of 
 no great importance. They vnll bo forced to re- 
 treat as soon as the Russians advance near Tur- 
 tokoi and Hirsova. But with the eyes of Eui'ope 
 upon him the Emperor will very likely immensely 
 dislike the position of keeping on the offensive in 
 Wallachia. If Gortshakoff should advance here 
 with great forces, we should send Omer at once by 
 the shortest way to Bucharest, and very likely 
 bring about a speedy return. If Omer would only 
 avoid a big hataille rangee ! Such a one might be 
 dangerous. 
 
 I have hardly any of my works about Turkey 
 left. The original surveys I have given to the 
 General Staff, where they have been partly mis- 
 laid. I have only one plan of the places along the 
 coast, the Danube fortresses and the Balkan passes 
 in 50T00 reduction. But I have nothing about 
 Varna, and I should be very much pleased if 
 you could send me a copy of my map on oil- 
 paper. My original map of Shumla is in posses- 
 sion of the General Staff. I can have the passes
 
 To His Fkiends. 215 
 
 over the Balkan copied for you, but only on a 
 small scale. 
 
 Good-bye, dear Fischer, it is time to hurry to a 
 conclusion. I shall ask Vincke to write to you 
 about the matter mentioned in the beginning of 
 this letter. My wife's compliments and my own to 
 your family. Please to give my love to my old 
 friend Frobel, -svith my best congratulations on his 
 engagement. 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 Von Moltke. 
 
 Magdeburg, May 27th, 1855. 
 
 It was a great pleasure to me, dear Fischer, 
 to hear direct from you once again, though after a 
 long time. I sincerely hope that you have done 
 with all illness now, and that you feel quite well 
 and happy at beautiful Coblentz ; one might envy 
 you your being there. ... 
 
 It seems doubtful to me, if I shaU be included 
 in the promotions this time. I think for a good 
 promotion it is quite necessary to be in the brigade. 
 Unfortunately I have not done any practical ser-
 
 2i6 Selections from Letters 
 
 vice for a long time, and this loss is not easily re- 
 paired. It is possible that I may have already 
 attained my limit, and in that case I would retire 
 at once on the smallest hint. 
 
 What is to become of the situation at Sebas- 
 topol ? It will be of no use to begin operations 
 at Kertch, Balaklava, and Eupatoria at the same 
 time. Omer will not sacrifice himself to liberate 
 the Allied Powers. Is it their intention to with- 
 draw the Reserve Forces to Eupatoria and to send 
 part of the besieging Corps there secretly as soon 
 as possible, so that by the help of a rearguard 
 they may retire from the difficulty with a sacrifice 
 of material only ? Eupatoria in itself is a basis for 
 advancement and re-embarkment, but this re- 
 quires a coast-line several miles long, from which 
 the naval artiUery could be effectually worked. 
 
 The possibility of success in this expedition lay 
 in the use that was made of the victory on the 
 Alma, and as it was almost entirely neglected, 
 operations will have to be begun again from Eupa- 
 toria, which is much more difficult now that 
 cavalry is scarce. A better plan would be to 
 carry on operations from the lower Danube
 
 To His Friends. 217 
 
 through the very fertile districts towards Kiev. 
 That would make room in the Crimea, but to 
 carry out this plan the Austrians would be 
 wanted. If they are not inclined to move, I 
 think there will be nothing left to the Allies 
 but to make peace. As long as the French 
 are besieging Sebastopol with more than 100,000 
 men, it will not be easy for them to turn their 
 wrath against Germany or Italy. The time for 
 operations is come, and something must soon be 
 done. 
 
 My wife sends her best love. 
 
 With true friendship and devotion. Your 
 
 Von Moltke. 
 
 Berlin, Nov. 4th, 1855. 
 Dear Fischer, 
 
 . . . The matter about my command is not 
 private and the Prince's Court is well informed 
 about it. The whole affair was arranged officially, 
 without my knowing anything about it, through 
 the Lord High Chamberlain and the Military 
 Cabinet, which had found me suitable. I have
 
 2i8 Selections from Letters 
 
 reason to believe that the Prince and Princess 
 of Prussia have no objection to ray appointment. 
 But what position I shall be able to take 
 with the young Prince I am not yet able to 
 judge, in spite of his great courteousness to me. 
 All his sympathies are with his old play-fellows and 
 Dutzbriider^ at Potsdam and, perhaps also with 
 his last tried aide-de-camp. At present he is with 
 a battalion at Potsdam. I only see him at the 
 hunt, or when he makes a special arrangement for 
 me to go there. His definite move to Berlin is 
 being put off as long as possible. But steps have 
 been taken for the Prince to attend sittings in 
 the different Cabinets. In my opinion he will 
 only learn special cases in that way, but it may 
 be arranged for suitable members of these bodies 
 to lecture before him on proceedings of the 
 Administration in general. I have asked per- 
 mission to attend these sittings myself, that I may 
 learn what is to be learnt from them. 
 
 Besides this, the Prince has asked me to give 
 him lectures on a campaign. But I have told him 
 that I would rather instruct him on important 
 ^ Friends that one addresses witli " Du."
 
 To His Friends. 219 
 
 military questions of the day, -very" interesting 
 material for which is afforded by the Great General 
 Staff. I am now engaged 'in working out the 
 campaign in the Crimea, and the'present state of 
 this question, in which I am much assisted by 
 Riistow's very able book and the collected notes 
 of the General Staff. It is important not to weary 
 the young gentleman, but to try to 'interest him 
 in the subject. 
 
 Vincke has been to see us. It is a good thing 
 he stays away from Parliament. I think he is run- 
 ning in the wrong direction with his opposing 
 views ; otherwise he is the same old honest true- 
 hearted soul. 
 
 What do you say to Sebastopol? An army 
 known to fight like the Russian, cannot have good 
 leaders, and be beaten in two parts of the world. 
 Since the dwarf of Eupatoria has grown into a 
 giant, and Kinbum has been lost, I do not doubt 
 that the Crimea wiU be evacuated before the be- 
 ginnin": of winter even without another battle. 
 The Crimea is not a place that can be kept imcon- 
 ditionally like Gibraltar or Malta. The Turks are 
 too weak for such a present, as Sweden is for Fin-
 
 220 Selections from Letters 
 
 land. If the Allies were to hold the Crimea, they 
 
 would have to keep an army there on a perpetual 
 
 war-footinp:. I therefore look upon the peninsula 
 
 as a forfeit which Russia will have to redeem when 
 
 peace is made. And to that Russia will soon be 
 
 brought, even without an invasion, by the allied 
 
 army on the south frontier, and by the blockade of 
 
 the two seas, against which she has no defence. 
 
 But I must conclude my already too lengthy 
 
 letter. 
 
 In old friendship. Yours, 
 
 Von Moltke. 
 
 Marash, June 26th, 1839. 
 Dear Vincke,^ 
 
 On the 24th of this month we threw away 
 S3rria. There was no special surprise, no sur- 
 rounding of the wing, nothing of that kind, but a 
 lively cannonade. The troops were so terrified, 
 that first the brigade of Heyder Pasha, then the 
 cavalry, and at last everybody took to flight. 
 In the fight we certainly did not lose a thousand 
 
 * Captain Baron von Vincke.
 
 To His Friends. 221 
 
 men, but during the retreat or flight we lost at least 
 two-thirds of the corps. The Pasha and part of the 
 Army retreated to Behesne ; the bulk of it will 
 probably come to Marash, if the enemy pursues. 
 Hafiz Pasha had absolutely refused to go back to 
 Biradshik, because he said it was aib (a shame), 
 when we were suddenly surrounded from the left 
 (strategically) at Nisib. "Whereupon I asked for 
 my discharge and for passports to Constantinople, 
 just before the battle began. 
 
 Miihlbach, Laue and myself are well and rode 
 here together without delay from the battle-field. 
 We are still without further news. We shall very 
 likely join you. It is now important to raise an 
 army, perhaps near Kaisarieh. Adieu. The 
 tatar is going away. If they had held out for 
 another half hour, Ibrahim Pasha might have been 
 defeated. He attacked from Bkadshik. 
 
 MOLTKE.
 
 Letters from Captain Baron von 
 Vincke to Major-General Fischer. 
 
 AsBUSU, July 17th, 1839. Moltke has behaved on every 
 occasion as " un chevalier sans peur et sans reproche," and as 
 an able, active and discreet officer of the General Staff. Even 
 when he was ill and when he had better have stayed in bed, 
 he was at his post. He always took part in reconnoitring, and 
 as he was bold and plucky, the Turks took him for a kind of 
 Dali.i He is highly esteemed by everybody, and the Pasha 
 has always valued his opinion and advice, though on the most 
 important point he did not listen to him. He now sees, only 
 too clearly, how wrong he was not to do so. I have heard this 
 confession both from himself and from other generals. If we 
 had only remained at Biradshik or had returned there ! ^ 
 
 On the 20th, when the news of Ibrahim's approach arrived, 
 Moltke had been lying ill in his tent for six weeks, suffering from 
 dysentery. But on hearing the news, he rose and he has not 
 had any rest since then. I cannot understand how he could 
 undergo such fatigues. Here he has much improved in health 
 through the rest we have had the last fortnight, but he requires 
 care and change of climate for his complete restoration. We 
 are therefore longing for our departure, which depends at 
 present upon Mehemet All Bey. the confidant of the Sultan. 
 
 1 Dali, a legendary hero. 
 
 2 Comipare " Briefe iiber Zustiinde und Begebenheiten in 
 der»Turkei," p. 366 et se^., 5th edition.
 
 Selections from Letters, Etc. 223 
 
 Pesth, October 24th, 1839. We (ray wife and I) have 
 been detained here since October 8th. Moltke, wlio has been 
 ailing ever since I met him at Albistan, and who has been weak- 
 ened still more through mistakes in his diet and colds which he 
 caught on the journey, and the unhealthy quarantine, fell 
 seriously ill in the night of the 6th to the 7th of October, and 
 since then we have been obliged to stay here. Some days ago 
 he was almost well again, except that he was very languid, 
 and I had already engaged places on the steamer which left 
 yesterday, when a fresh relapse compelled us to remain. 
 Though I should have liked to hasten my return to Berlin, I 
 cannot leave him alone so far aAvay from home, and he has no 
 servant with him. . . . 
 
 Moltke is suffering from gastric and rheumatic fever, a 
 natural result of repeated colds and irregularities in his diet, 
 which were unavoidable in the life he had to lead. His state 
 is not critical, but it requires great care, and therefore he ought 
 to be looked after, for we know that he is easy-going in regard 
 to himself and his health. But just now he is quite different, 
 and one might call him almost nervous. There is nothing for 
 us but patience, patience ! Especially for my poor wife, who 
 seems to be destined to be nurse for the whole Prussian General 
 Staff in the East, and who is very home-sick. 
 
 Eegelsbrunn/ October 30th, 1839. I put off sending 
 you this letter, which I wrote several days ago, because I 
 hoped to be able to tell you of our start, as the varying 
 state of Moltke's health made us hope that we might 
 possibly get off at last. The day before yesterday we 
 really left Pesth by the steamer in the morning, hoping to 
 remain on board as far as Vienna ; and though Moltke was 
 very weak — he had been up a few hours for the first time the 
 day before — wo hastened to avail ourselves of the very un- 
 
 ' On the Danube, half way between Pressburg and Vienna.
 
 224 Selections from Letters 
 
 certain steamers, for every day it became more difficult to 
 transport our patient to Vienna, as we were afraid the steamers 
 might cease running. We therefore left on Monday, at six 
 o'clock in the morning ; it was raining ; we arrived in the 
 evening at nine o'clock at Gonyo, where we spent the night. 
 We had taken a private cabin for Moltke, so that he could stay 
 in bed the whole day, and in this way the journey was not 
 tiring for him ; he had no trace of fever. Yesterday morning 
 at three o'clock we left again by moonlight ; and passed several 
 dangerous places, only to stick fast at Vagha. We were 
 detained from nine o'clock till half past two in the after- 
 noon ; once more afloat, we continued our journey for a quarter 
 of an hour to a sand-bank, where we landed to embark on the 
 Maria Anna, which was waiting for us on the other side. This 
 transshipping, which we had not foreseen, as we had been told 
 that the Sophia would go as far as Vienna, was difficult and 
 dangerous for Moltke ; he was seized with shivering fits, 
 followed by feverishness. Towards evening he was better, and 
 had a pretty good night. The seven hours' delay prevented 
 our reaching Pressburg yesterday; we had to lie at anchor 
 another night, and after leaving at four o'clock this morn- 
 ing we landed at Pressburg at eight, where we were much 
 disappointed to hear that the steamer was not going as far as 
 Vieima. We had to make up our minds to hire a covered 
 carriage in which we left Pressburg at noon to-day. But 
 Moltke was so weak, that he could not go any farther, he 
 almost fainted on the way; and my wife and I held him 
 on our knees. May God grant him a quiet night ; and may 
 he be strong enough to go on with us to Vienna to-morrow. 
 It is fortunate that we left, for communication by steamer is 
 now being broken ofi", and in November weather we could not 
 have gone in a Hungarian carriage with a patient like Moltke. 
 What should we have done if we had gone by Italy or Egypt ! 
 Vienna, October 31st, 1839. God be thanked, we have
 
 To His Friends. 225 
 
 happily arrived at Vienna. We left Regelsbninn this morning 
 at nine o'clock ; as far as Fischanaont — the first station — 
 Mollke was in a sitting posture, but then he could endure it 
 no longer ; I took an open carriage for my wife and myself 
 and left the covered carriage to hira, arranging it so that 
 he could lie down. My servant Franz remained with him ; 
 they followed slowly, while we went on in advance to look for 
 rooms and to make necessary preparations. So we are estab- 
 lished in the " Schwan " in the Kiirthner Strasse. Though 
 Moltkc has been very weak, he docs not seem worse to-night, 
 in fact, rather better than he was when wo packed him oH at 
 Pesth, and I hope that he will gradually recover if he will only 
 take care. Eut he is a patient who wants careful watching, 
 from carelessness about his diet. I hope the supper which he 
 took to-day with a hearty appetite will not do him harm. 
 
 I am thinking of remaining here a fortnight. If Moltke 
 should be quite strong by then, we shall, perhaps, travel to- 
 gether; but if this is not the case, I shall advise him on no 
 account to leave before he is quite well and sure of being able 
 to bear the fatigues of a journey. 
 
 Vienna, November 6th, 1839. Our friend Moltke is not 
 getting on well, I am sorry to say. He has been in bed ever 
 since he came here a week to-morrow ; he has an intermittent 
 bilious fever, which is decreasing, but which has made him very 
 weak. I think he must stay here for some time, that he may 
 be quite strong before venturing on his return journey at this 
 season. I do not much like leaving him here alone, before he 
 is far enough advanced to bo up the greater part of the day, 
 and to be able to while away his time ; on the other hand, I 
 know well that my presence is needed in Berlin. 
 
 Vienna, November 7th, 1839. I have just had an interview 
 with the doctor, about Moltke. He has an intermittent fever, 
 and his stomach, bov.ols and bile are completely out of order. 
 The doctor will give him quinine to-day, and in a few days he 
 
 Q
 
 2 26 Selections from Letters, Etc. 
 
 "will see if his recover}' is likely to be quick or slow. In the 
 former case, which may God grant, I mean to leave as soon as the 
 patient is Avell enough to be out of bed during the day ; I hope 
 this will be some time next week. But if he does not improve, 
 I really do not know what to do. At all events I shall wait 
 and see for a few days. I am longing to get home, but it is 
 against my conscience to leave Moltke alone in his present 
 condition, unless I receive orders. 
 
 Breslau, November 19th, 1839, As Moltke was out of bed, 
 and his recovery, as I confidently hope, is thorough, we left 
 Vienna on the 14th inst.
 
 LETTERS TO COUNT EDUARD VON 
 BETHUSY-HUC. 
 
 Count Eduard von Bethust-Huc, born in 1800, was first an 
 officer in the Engineers, then Aide-de-camp to Prince Charles, 
 and from 1835 to 1847 tutor to Prince Frederick Charles. From 
 this time dates his acc[uaintance with the Field-Marshal, whose 
 wife was an intimate friend of the Countess Bethusy, nee von 
 Kircheisen. In 1847 Count Bothusy retired from the Army 
 with the rank of Major, and was then for a time director of 
 the Ritter Academy at Liegnitz, and retired in 1851 to his 
 estates in Silesia. After he had sold them, he lived with 
 his son Dodo on his estate Langenhof, which became his after 
 his son had died the death of a hero at Koniggriitz. He died 
 in 1871 at Breslau. 
 
 Besides distinguishing himself in his profession, Count 
 Bethusy had intellectual gifts of a high order. As a young 
 lieutenant, he had taken part in the Eussian campaign against 
 Turkey in 1829 under General Diebitsch. 
 
 As an explanation of the following letters, we may say that 
 the first is the Field-Marshal's answer to the Count, who had 
 expressed his^doubts as to the drawing-up of the Prussian Army 
 (May 1st, 1866), against Austria, and principally as to the with- 
 drawal of troops from the southern parts of Silesia. 
 
 Berlin, May 29th, 18G6. 
 Much Honoured Herr Graf, 
 
 I have received your kind letter, dated the 
 (^ 2
 
 228 Selections from Letters 
 
 23rd of May, through your son. His re-appoint- 
 ment is sure to take place, for officers are much 
 wanted, and all who apply now must be wel- 
 come. 
 
 You are right in saying that a strong initiative 
 would be the best. The Austrians are six weeks 
 in advance of us with their armament. However, 
 in spite of it we shall have caught them up by 
 the beginning of next week. AYaiting will in- 
 crease their strength, and during that time the 
 hostility of South Germany will also increase ; 
 it also exhausts our financial means, and has a 
 depressing moral effect. It is a grave thing for 
 our old King and Master, at seventy years of 
 age, to be expected to take the first step in a 
 European war, of which nobody can see the 
 end. 
 
 On the Austrian side the First Army corps is 
 stationed near Prague, the Second round Olmlitz, 
 the Fourth still in Galicia and Austrian Silesia, 
 and the Saxon Army is ready near Dresden. The 
 Tenth Army corps, as well as the Sixth and Eighth, 
 are concentrating round Briinn. They have 1 40,000 
 men ready, and 100,000 more who could join 
 them.
 
 To His Friends. 229 
 
 As to our measures, we have thought it v/isc to 
 direct all our forces against the enemy, who is 
 already in the field, and at present to ignore those 
 in South Germany who are only beginning to 
 rise. If we succeed in defeating the principal 
 enemy, the others (except Saxony) will hardly 
 stir. 
 
 Naturally our first drawing-up would look 
 like a dispersion. We must begin operations 
 where the railway enters the frontier. But as 
 soon as our soldiers have done so, this necessary 
 dispersion will soon be remedied. 
 
 Nothing is kno^vn as yet about the intentions of 
 the Austrians. An invasion of Silesia might 
 result in an immediate success for them. But 
 this shock would not affect the monarchy at the 
 centre. Only operations against Berlin would be 
 decisive. Incursions like those which you 
 describe, cannot be avoided, but everything 
 possible shall be done in this direction. 
 
 Let us hope for the old luck of Prussia and the 
 ability of her Army ; and that it may be God's 
 will that Prussia should now fulfil the mission 
 which is incumbent upon her in Germany. It
 
 230 Selections from Letters 
 
 will be a serious fight, but it will have to be 
 fought once, and on the whole, circumstances are 
 not unfavourable just now. 
 
 My Avife wishes to be kindly remembered to 
 you. With sincere esteem and affection, 
 
 Yours, 
 
 MOLTKE. 
 
 Berlin, August 19th, 1866. 
 
 During the quiet time which we are having 
 again, I must not omit, dear Bethusy, to send you 
 my sincere thanks for several letters, which I 
 was unable to answer by return, on account of the 
 pressure of business, but whose good counsels I 
 have not left unnoticed. 
 
 We could not defend Silesia in Silesia, but we 
 attacked the Austrians in Bohemia, in such a 
 manner that they had not a man left for the 
 visitation which they had intended to pay 
 you. 
 
 The campaign was favoured by fortune in an 
 almost unexampled manner, not a single under- 
 taking failed. Everybody did his duty, and your
 
 To His Friends. 251 
 
 kind judgment as to my part in it, has given me 
 much pleasure, though I must attribute your 
 opinion to your interest in me. 
 
 You can ima<]:ine with what satisfaction the Kin^r 
 has met his members. The public feeling has 
 much improved ; the demand for indemnities has 
 had a good effect, also the annexation of Hanover, 
 Hesse Cassel and Nassau. It is hard for the 
 sovereigns, but a division of land would have been 
 harder for the populations. 
 
 France and Russia appear unconcerned about 
 this enlargement^of Prussia, and the great thing 
 for us now is to win the affections of our new 
 subjects by good -and just government, and to 
 organize their^military affairs. We shall be envied 
 on all sides. 
 
 The Emperor Napoleon could not have chosen 
 a worse moment for a war, than n time when ^ve 
 have 640,000 armed men. We should even have 
 had South Germany on our side, and if matters 
 had come to the worst, we might have entered, at 
 the same time, into a contest with Austria and 
 France. Then the result would not only have been 
 a united North Germany, but an ," entire Ger- 
 many."
 
 232 Selections from Letters 
 
 It is natural that such great results cannot be 
 obtained without great sacrifices ; many families 
 are mourning, like yourself, for the loss of a dear 
 one. 
 
 Poor Dodo ! I was truly grieved for him. Your 
 second son, as well as my nephew, unfortunately 
 came too late to take part in the grand attack of 
 the regiment. At present they are at Raitz, a 
 railway station, north of Briinn. May God pre- 
 serve them from the dreadful cholera. 
 
 The diplomatists have been treating now for 
 three weeks at Prague, almost as long as the 
 campaign lasted, and have not yet come to a 
 definitive conclusion. I heartily wish that we 
 might recall our troops from the unfortunate 
 country, so heavily visited by war, hunger and 
 pestilence. 
 
 My wife, who wishes me to assure you of her 
 greatest sympathy with your grief, desires her kind 
 remembrance, and I ask you to preserve a friendly 
 interest in yours truly devoted, 
 
 MOLTKE.
 
 To II IS Friends. 233 
 
 Berlin, January 6th, 18G9. 
 
 I sincerely thank you, dear Herr Graf, for the 
 sympathizing words which you have sent to me 
 in my loneliness, and for the kind remembrance 
 that you have of my poor wife. 
 
 You too, have had to bear the loss of a beauti- 
 ful young wife, taken away in her prime, and 
 your lonely path through life has been longer 
 than mine can be ; and what a hard sacrifice you 
 had to make to your country only two years 
 ago. 
 
 After such losses the eye looks involuntarily up 
 to heaven and towards a reunion, for which we 
 may hope. 
 
 I remember vividly the time when both our 
 young wives had such pleasant intercourse; they 
 mutually attracted each other by their bright and 
 open-hearted characters during the twenty-seven 
 years of my happy married life. How often 
 have I been strengthened and encouraged in gi-ave 
 and momentous times by my wife's firmness and 
 confidence. She was a real patriot, proud of the 
 successes of our Army and of her King, whom she 
 expressly included in her last prayer. Will you
 
 234 Selections from Letters, Etc. 
 
 allow an old and tried friend to send you the 
 enclosed leaf; and may I ask you to keep the 
 departed and myself in kind remembrance ? 
 With sincere esteem and devotion, 
 
 Your obedient, 
 
 MOLTKE.
 
 Letters to the General of the Cavalry, 
 Von Tiimpling. 
 
 General von Tumpling, from 186G to 1883 Commanding- 
 General of the Sixth Army Corps (died 1884), was from 1842 
 to 1848 Captain in the General Stafif of the 8th Army Corps 
 at Coblentz. When Moltke returned from Rome in 184G, he 
 too was attached to the General Stafif of the Eighth Army 
 Corps, and the two years that they spent together at Coblentz 
 strengthened their friendship. His son, Herr Legationrath v. 
 Tiimpling, at Thalstein, near Jena, has kindly put these letters 
 at our disposal. 
 
 Berlin, January 28tli, 1869. 
 I thank you, clear Tumpling, very sincerely for 
 your sympathy in my trouble. I know that the 
 kind words you sent me, sprang from a truly 
 sympathizing heart. You had known my Avife 
 for a long time, you also knew her open, simple 
 character, her cheerfulness and her firm trust in 
 God's providence ; all these qualities have been 
 for twenty-seven years the joy and happiness of
 
 2^6 Selections from Letters 
 
 •o 
 
 my life. She was taken from me in the prime 
 of life, and, apparently, of health, proud of her 
 country and her king, and full of sympathy with 
 all mankind. Her life though short was as happy 
 as is possible here on earth, and I would not 
 call her back. I also thank your wife heartily for 
 her sympathy, and ask you to remember your 
 truly devoted, 
 
 MOLTKE. 
 
 Versailles, Nov. 3rd, 1870. 
 Much honoueed Friend, 
 
 I thank you sincerely for your kind wishes,^ 
 and especially for your kind thought of my poor 
 wife in the midst of the grand successes of our 
 war. If the Lord is going to grant us a speedy 
 and victorious return home, she will not meet me 
 at the station, as she did after the last war, rejoic- 
 ing proudly in the feats of our Army. I can no 
 longer share the manv scarcelv deserved rewards 
 which I am receiving with her who was so patriotic 
 and brave, but I thank God that He has allowed 
 
 ' For his liirtliJay.
 
 To His Friends. 237 
 
 mc to live through this great period, and I hope 
 that we shall finish gloriously, what we have 
 begun so successfully. 
 
 The present negotiations with M. Thiers cannot 
 lead to any result. These haughty, infatuated 
 Frenchmen must be humiliated much more 
 before they will listen to reason. There are 
 means enough and more than enough since the 
 fall of Metz, but time is needed for them to take 
 effect. But already the Fourth division is fonning 
 the reserve, and the Third will follow immediately 
 by rail. Prince Frederick Charles will arrive at 
 Commercy to-day, and also the head of the first 
 Army under Manteuffel has begun to advance. 
 
 The news from Paris leaves no doubt that an 
 opposition Government has been set up there by a 
 revolt, and that M. Trochu has been dismissed. 
 
 With best love, 
 
 MOLTKE.
 
 Selections from Letters to the Oberhof- 
 prediger Schaubach at Meiningen. 
 
 Court Chaplain Schaubach was from 1854 to 1856 tutor to 
 the eldest sons of the Field-Marshal's younger brother, Adolf 
 von Moltke, Royal Danish Chamberlain and Administrator of 
 the county of Eantzau in Holstein. 
 
 He gives the following account of his relations with the 
 Field-Marshal. 
 
 Meiningen, June 22, 1891. 
 
 My first meeting with the General-Field-Marshal took place 
 at six o'clock in the evening of the 25th of October, 1856, 
 at the station of Elmshorn in Holstein, 
 
 The Major-General, then fifty-six years old, came from 
 Flensburg, where he had just paid a visit to his brother, the 
 retired Royal Danish Major Friedrich von Moltke, and had 
 come to spend his birthday at Rantzau with his brother Adolf 
 von Mcltke, the excellent Jurist and Administrator of the 
 county of Rantzau. 
 
 I was to meet the General, as yet unknown to me, with my 
 pupils, TVilhelm and Helmuth, and we were to take him 
 to Rantzau in the carriage drawn by two fiery white horses. 
 The train arrived ; a slim, tall and striking military figure in 
 Prussian uniform quickly left the railway carriage. After the 
 introduction to me and the hearty greetings of his two nephews, 
 no one will be astonished to hear, that I was extremely sur- 
 prised by this quiet, simple-looking gentleman putting the
 
 Selections from Letters, Etc. 239 
 
 following question to me, so striking in the mouth of an officer, 
 " Were the horses safe ? " Upon my assuring him that they 
 might be considered quite safe in the hands of the clever 
 coachman, though they -were fiery animals, he said to me in a 
 winning amiable way, yet with decision : " In that case, I 
 should like to propose to you that the two boys should drive 
 on to announce my arrival at home, while we walk the four or 
 five miles." 
 
 As I could not possibly delude myself into believing that 
 this walk on a dark evening was preferred to a drive " on 
 account of my beautiful eyes," it was natural to think that the 
 General had become tired of driving, and that he therefore 
 preferred walking. 
 
 But as soon as the carriage had rolled away, his reasons 
 became evident. With a certain terseness, but very kindly, 
 he began the conversation: "You come from Meiningen ?" 
 "Yes." "Then I suppo.se you are connected with Adolf 
 Shaubach, who wrote the book about the German Alps?" 
 " Yes, he was my father's brother." " Was V "I am sorry 
 to say that he died six years ago." " It distresses me 
 very much to hear that. Please tell me all you know of his 
 life ; he must have been an excellent man." I did so ; and 
 the remarks which the Field-Marshal made in the course of 
 the conversation were a proof of how he had absorbed the 
 book, and how he had thought about it, in a way which put 
 me to shame. 
 
 At the conclusion of this conversation the quiet, earnest and 
 conscientious man began to question me about the two boys, 
 my i)lan of instruction, and my own education with so much 
 tact and yet so thoroughly that I could not rid myself of the 
 impression that the most ideal of school-governors could not 
 more cleverly call forth the innermost feelings of a candidate 
 he has to examine for the office of schoolmaster. Not a word 
 of praise or of blame passed his lips, yet I soon experienced,
 
 240 Selections from Letters 
 
 and contiuued to experience to the end of his life with in- 
 delible gratitude, how clearly and charitably the celebrated 
 man judged the thoughts and endeavours of the young tutor 
 of whom he never lost sight again. 
 
 Two things that happened on the following day, his birth- 
 day, have specially remained in my memorj'. 
 
 At dinner, to which several other guests were invited in 
 honour of the day, through the remarks of a retired officer, the 
 conversation turned upon the usefulness of the so-called Senner- 
 horses which are bred in the principality of Lippe. The 
 General's first quiet reply was : " I do not know much about 
 the matter," but soon after he said, in answer to the remarks of 
 others, with that obliging manner peculiar to him : " That cannot 
 be quite right ; " and then he gave such a comprehensive and 
 clear opinion about those horses that I involuntarily said to 
 myself after his explanation, though I had no technical know- 
 ledge on the matter : ** Any other man who had known so much 
 about the subject would have believed himself particularly 
 fitted by God for this line of life, and breaking through every 
 hindrance would take the lead of the whole horse-breeding of 
 the present time." 
 
 Another trait, though seemingly insignificant, shows the 
 General's reverent turn of mind. After dinner, though his time 
 was but short, he drove for several hours over a moor to look 
 up the clergyman at Hohenfelde, who was then ninety years old, 
 and in whose house he had lived some time when a boy. The 
 brothers did not return till night. 
 
 On August 22nd, 1868, the Chief of the General Staff of the 
 Army arrived at Meiningen with numerous officers from the 
 campaign on the Maine in 18G6. The following morning, 
 the eleventh Sunday after Trinity, he went unnoticed to 
 the Schlosskirche, where I was preaching ; after service he 
 waited for mc at the church door to accompany me home, to the 
 great surprise of my congregation. In one of his letters to me,
 
 To His Friends. 241 
 
 he who searched in his sincere firul straightforward rnaiiiuT fnr 
 the truth of the holiest things sj)oI<c ahout the sermon I had 
 preached that day, and witli a quotation from a letter of his, 
 ■written to me on Octoher 26th, 1880, the Army Chaplain, 
 Provost D. Richter, ended his sermon at the Field-Marshal's 
 funeral. In this letter the richness of a pure and simple 
 Christian heart is revealed in a way, peculiar to him, which 
 touches every heart. 
 
 Berlin, Nov. 10th, 1875. 
 Much honoured Court Chaplain, 
 
 An influenza cold, which kept me in bed a 
 fortnight, has prevented my answering your kind 
 letter of the 25th of last month sooner. I thanlc 
 you heartily for your congratulations, and for keep- 
 ing a true and kind remembrance of me. Your 
 letters are always a great pleasure to me, they 
 allow me a glance into a mind which, in spite of 
 grievous trials, has kept its inward peace, and 
 has found the support of life where alone it can be 
 found. My nephew Wilhelm, your former pupil, 
 has grown into an able, steady man ; you will be 
 pleased with him when you meet him again. He 
 is very happy in his married life, and much pleased 
 with a little daughter that has been born to them. 
 I look upon him as the head and supporter of our 
 family when I am gone, which time, according to 
 
 R
 
 242 Selections from Letters 
 
 the course of nature, cannot be very far off. With 
 much love, I remain, 
 
 Your truly devoted, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 Creisau, Oct. 27th, 1876. 
 Much honoured Sir, 
 
 With all my heart I thank you for having 
 remembered my birthday again this year. Will 
 you now accept my best wishes for your own, 
 which is only one day before mine ? I am glad to 
 hear that in your parochial work you find a recom- 
 pense for many misfortunes, and that you are re- 
 warded by gaining the affection of those whose 
 eyes you have opened to real Christian, but large- 
 minded, views, as I believe you said in a sermon 
 that I heard you preach at Meiningen, which 
 went to my heart and touched me much. 
 
 . . . My brother Adolf s four giants are all over 
 six feet high, and have grown into strong and 
 capable men who do credit to your education. 
 With best wishes, I remain in sincere esteem. 
 Yours, Count Moltke, 
 
 Field-Marshal.
 
 To His Friends. 243 
 
 Xot dated. 
 Much honoured Sir, 
 
 It is very good of you to remember my 
 birthday so kindly, and I thank you heartily for 
 your good wishes and kind sentiment towards me. 
 It is a particular pleasure for me to hear from you, 
 who have had so many and such early connections 
 with our family. You too, have had much trouble 
 since we met last time at Rantzau, but you have 
 taken it as God's Providence, having received from 
 Him strength to bear it. It must be a great satis- 
 faction to you to know that you have done good 
 even under difficult circumstances, and this feeling 
 must strengthen and support you, even where your 
 good work has not been crowned by public success. 
 If one remembers how little of such success is due 
 to oneself, but that God w^orks through the weak, 
 it must teach one humility. Your former pupils, 
 my brother Adolfs sons, are well. . . . God's 
 blessing evidently rests on the children of such 
 an excellent father. Judging by the one sermon 
 which I heard from you years ago, and which has 
 always remained in my memory, I shall have 
 
 R 2
 
 244 Selections from Letters 
 
 much pleasure in reading tlie one you promise 
 me. 
 
 With esteem, yours sincerely, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 The following verses on Moltke's eightieth 
 
 birthday, were sent him by the Oberhofprcdiger 
 
 Schaubach : — 
 
 Ob unfer Ccbcn big ju ftebjig 3at)rcn, 
 SBScnn'g l)od) fommt, bii ju ad)tii9 fleigt^ 
 Unb ob eg rcid) an Qi)xcn unb ©cfabren, 
 Ob'S lautloS^ unge!annt jum ®rab fid) ncigt/ 
 93om !oillicl) rcirf)Pcn Sebcn fitct)t ju le[en/ 
 2^0^ eg DoU SDiUt)' unb Ttrbeit ij! geirefcn. 
 
 Unb bennod)/ bennod) gilt eg/ ol)ne SBanfen 
 
 3n niut)eooUer/ jlreitberoegter SBelt/ 
 
 ©etroft unb fro^ aug tiefjter ®eele ban!en 
 
 ^tm, ber t)inein in SJJut)' unb 2(rbeit ung geflcllt/ 
 
 2iSeiO ob burd) ©liicE unb (Sc^mcrj bie 23a^n |td) icenbet/ 
 
 Sag ^ofllidje in ?Kut}en jtd) »otIenbet. 
 
 2)id) t)at J)ein cw'ger Jlonig rcid) ge[cgnct> 
 2)eg <55eijleg ©d)affen mit bem ©ieg gehoni^ 
 2)u ftet)|l> tt)ie jdt)er Sd)merj Sir oud) begegnct/ 
 Sm gtieben ®ottcg ba/ bem ©djmerj sevfobnt. 
 23on 2)eiiicm Ccben abcr with Dcin 23olE fletg Icfcn: 
 ,/Siet)' ! fcjilid) fOiii^' unb 2Crbcit ijl'g gewefcn." 
 
 Moltke replied as follows : — 
 
 Berlin, Oct. 27th, 1880. 
 Much honoured Herr Hofprediger, 
 
 My best thanks for your beautiful, warm-
 
 To His Friends. 245 
 
 hearted verses. You are right, full of toil and 
 work my life has been and yours too. I am near 
 the end of my days, and on wliat a different scale 
 will our earthly work be weighed in the future 
 world ! The value of our life on earth will not he 
 judged by the success, but l)y the punty of our 
 endeavours and our perseverance even where 
 there was no great visible result. What a strange 
 change will then take place at the great review of 
 rich and poor. We ourselves do not even know 
 what we have done in our own strength, how 
 much we owe to others and how much to a higher 
 will. It will be good not to put too much to our 
 own account. 
 
 It will interest you to hear, if you have not 
 done so already, that Wilhelm's wife has been con- 
 fined of another boy, who is called the " Reserve 
 boy." I know that you watch any event in niy 
 brother Adolf's life with the old interest. At 
 Helmuth's the same event is expected very soon. 
 Fritz is studying the profession of a Landrath at 
 Stendal ; he is an excellent, able man ; and Ludwig 
 manages my estate in Silesia ; he is very successful, 
 and I am much pleased with him. Marie has been
 
 246 Selections from Letters, Etc. 
 
 offered the position of Lady-in-waiting to the 
 future Princess AVilhelm of Prussia, and Luise will 
 at present be the only one to remain with her 
 mother in the country. I am sure you are pleased 
 with the lovely hereditary Princess of Meiningen. 
 Now I must conclude with best wishes, and the 
 request furthermore to keep me in kind remem- 
 brance. 
 
 With sincere and high esteem, 
 
 Your, 
 
 Count Moltke.
 
 Selections from Letters to the Private 
 Councillor of Finances, Scheller. 
 
 The Field- Marshal's acquaintance witli Private Councillor 
 Scheller dates from his life at Magdeburg. Scheller was Stadt. 
 rath there, and lived in the same house with Moltke, who was 
 then Chief of the 4th Army Corps. They had a common 
 interest in the events of the years 1848 and 1849 ; they were 
 drawn into closer relationship which ended in a firm friendship. 
 In 1851 Scheller was moved into the ministry of commerce as 
 " vortragender Rath ; " later on he was engaged as Private Coun- 
 cillor of the Finances in tlie Marine Department. The intimate 
 intercourse between Moltke and himself continued up to his 
 death in 1883 ; he and also General von Gliszinski used to be 
 regular players at the Field-Marshal's evening whist parties. 
 
 The Field-Marshal always felt very thankful to Scheller for 
 the advice and help which the latter gave him as to the in- 
 vestment of the grant made to him by the State. 
 
 Ferrieres, near Paris, 
 Sept. 29th, 1870. 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 I have several times troubled you "with 
 requests and commissions, and have not even taken
 
 248 Selections from Letters 
 
 jin opportunity of thanking you for your kind 
 help. . . . 
 
 One half of the French army has been taken 
 prisoner, the other has been shut up at Metz and 
 Paris, in the former place for six weeks, here for 
 one week, and we must now wait to see how long 
 mattei's will remain as they are. The condition 
 of France meanwhile can only become worse, if 
 the other Powers do not interpose, which they 
 would scarcely do in favour of the Republic. Peace 
 is desirable in the interest of everybody; but where 
 is France ? With whom are we to treat ? The 
 elections which were to have taken place on the 
 2nd of next month have been adjourned. Then 
 the country would have been properly represented. 
 The elections would have been made without the 
 influence of government officials, vrithout the pre- 
 dominance of the capital, for we should not have 
 allowed their representatives to leave Paris. The 
 wealthy classes, the country population, would, for 
 once, have had a hearing, but that is just what is 
 not wanted in Paris. We must let the volcano 
 bum out by itself. Meanwhile we have taken 
 Toul and Strasburg, and shall now attack Soissons
 
 To His Friends. 249 
 
 and Bclfort. Our God has been with us and will 
 be with us in future, we hope. 
 
 I trust your son has been sent ^vith the reserve 
 troops, and that he will have the opportunity of 
 sharing in the latter part of the campaign. 
 
 My three nephews are all well, God be thanked, 
 though the 7 th regiment has lost a great many 
 men. Altojrether how much mourning there is 
 mixed with the joy of victory ! 
 
 With kind regards to your wife, and best love to 
 Gliszinski when you see him. 
 
 Faithfully your, 
 
 MOLTKE. 
 
 VersaiUes, Oct. llth, 1870. 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 I am sincerely grateful to you foi* your 
 kindness in looking after my money affairs, for 
 which I have no time. . . . 
 
 I can well imagine what pleasure the news of 
 our successes, won -with God's aid, give you ; even 
 when you lived at Magdeburg, when times were 
 bad, you stood firm and faithful on the side of
 
 250 Selections from Letters 
 
 king and fatherland. Oh, if my wife could have 
 lived through these times, how would her patriotic, 
 brave heart have rejoiced. She will not meet me at 
 the station as she- did on my return in 1866 ; but 
 I think the departed are not so far away from this 
 world that they can no longer feel with us. Indeed 
 it is God's judgment that is punishing this haughty 
 French nation. They are not humiliated yet, 
 much remains still for us to do. In Berlin too, 
 they will have to be patient. It takes a long time 
 to starve out a garrison, as Metz has sho^vn, and it 
 is not an easy thing to transport about 5000 tons 
 of siege battery on a newly constructed single line, 
 on which, at the same time, reinforcements and 
 victuals have to be conveyed. Meanwhile we can 
 keep the impatient provided with news : just now 
 there is the occupation of Orleans, and let us hope 
 soon the flight of the government from Tours. . . , 
 The cavalry has continual little skirmishes with 
 the " franc voleurs," which, of course, cause con- 
 stant loss of human lives. It is a pity that any 
 more lives should be lost now that the fate of the 
 war is decided. 
 
 Every day sixty to eighty grenades of heavy
 
 To His Friends. 251 
 
 calibre are fired from the forts at a distance of 6000 
 or even 8000 paces, at haphazard, in the direction 
 of our outposts. In this way six to eight men are 
 wounded every day. This cannot affect in the 
 slightest degree the decision of the Avar, and is 
 extremely expensive. 
 
 The whole situation could not be better described 
 than it is in a letter from a very sensible French 
 officer to the Gaulois, which you will soon see in 
 one of the numbers of our Berlin papers. . . . 
 
 Thanking you again for all your kindness, and 
 with kind remembrances to yourself and your wife 
 and best love to our friend Gliszinski, 
 
 I remain faithfully. 
 Yours, 
 
 MOLTKE. 
 
 Versailles, Dec. 18th, 1870. 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 . . . The twelfth dragoons have had hard 
 
 work, and as your son has happily escaped, you have 
 
 reason to be very thankful. Such an experience 
 
 is not soon forgotten, and must add to a young 
 
 man's efficiency for the work of his future life. I
 
 252 Selections from Letters 
 
 have reason to believe that the regiment will have 
 some rest at Orleans, the troops are much in need 
 of it after their continued marching and fighting. 
 General Chanzy is put down for a time, but 
 Bourbaki may reappear on the right bank of the 
 Loire. That will, however, take a little time, and 
 meanwhile rats will become scarcer and scarcer 
 in Paris. 
 
 From the papers and from letters I see that it 
 is believed at home, that the reason we do not 
 answer the hostile firing is out of regard for Paris, 
 or even because of the influence of people of rank. 
 That is by no means correct ; all that is thought 
 serviceable and possible is done. Surely we do 
 not want to wait here any longer than is 
 necessary. 
 
 How long this terrible war will continue and 
 with whom we shall in the end have to treat, 
 nobody here or at liome can tell. A whole 
 nation under arms is not to be underrated. It is 
 possible that we may Jiave a million against us 
 after the New Year ; but in the open field we hope 
 to defeat every hostile army, and in the course of 
 time even the richest country would succumb 
 
 i
 
 To His Friends. 253 
 
 under the burdens imposed by the present reign 
 of terror of the French rulers. 
 
 With best thanks for all your trouble, and 
 kindest reg.ards to your wife, Faithfully your, 
 
 MOLTKE. 
 
 Versailles, February 1st, 1871. 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 . . . You will have learnt from the papers 
 that all the Parisian forts are in our hands. To- 
 day I have looked at Paris from Mount Valerien. 
 The city is now nothing more to us than a large 
 prison of a captured Army. It would have been 
 impossible to bring this army to Germany 
 to be fed and housed. So they are shut up 
 in Paris. Faidherbe has been driven to the 
 north, Chanzy to the west, and I hope that to- 
 day or to-morrow the Army of Bourbaki will be 
 repulsed to Swiss territory. Another captured 
 army would be a real calamity for us. In three 
 weeks' time there will be a new Government, 
 which will be recognized by France and with 
 which we shall be able to treat ; and as matters
 
 254 Selections from Letters, Etc. 
 
 stand, one would think that they would be inclined 
 to make peace. But one never knows what the 
 French are going to do, they like nothing better 
 than iine phrases, and a dozen orators move an 
 assembly to take the maddest resolutions. But 
 I am convinced that this campaign will cure 
 Europe for a long time to come of the fancy for 
 republics. The present Republic has lost one-fifth 
 of French temtory and a dozen fortresses, has 
 sacrificed 100,000 men, devastated the capital, 
 ruined the finances and, notwithstanding, missed 
 its aim. Trochu also cannot be acquitted from 
 all blame in this disaster, though I esteem him 
 as an able, honest man. 
 
 I have no special news about your George, but 
 he, too, will profit by the truce. . . . 
 
 With kindest regards to your wife. 
 
 Your grateful and devoted, 
 
 MOLTKE.
 
 III. 
 Occasional Correspondence.
 
 ON RELIGIOUS SUBJFXTS. 
 
 Pastor Baumanx, Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance, 
 sent the rules of this society and information, about it on 
 May l.st, 1878. 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Creisau, May 10th, 1878. 
 
 Much honoured Herr Pastor, 
 
 I cannot but approve of the endeavours to 
 unite the different parties of the Evangelical 
 Church, but I am afraid that the common ground, 
 so sharply defined by the new tenets of the 
 Evangelical Union, will be too narrow for this 
 purpose. 
 
 There are great numbers who honestly seek for 
 truth, but as yet they have not attained that 
 knowledge which, according to your regulations, 
 is the necessary and right way. 
 
 The rules, however, very likely express the 
 right point of view for an Evangelical ecclesiastic. 
 But those who cannot honestly assert that these 
 
 s
 
 25 S Selfxtions troim Letters. 
 
 views correspond witli tlieir imriost convictions, 
 sliould not on that account be called infidels or 
 doubters. 
 
 I myself belong to this class, and must for these 
 reasons decline to join the Committee of the 
 German branch of the Evangelical Union. 
 
 Thanking you sincerely for the confidence you 
 so kindly placed in me, I remain, with special 
 esteem, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 Count Moltke.
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 An eminent man occupying an influential position, had sent 
 a pamphlet of a friend of his, entitled, " Education for the 
 Military Service," by Dr. H. Stiirenberg, now Eector of the 
 School of the Holy Cross at Dresden, to the Field-Marshal- 
 Til this paper the author, an expert and also an experienced 
 soldier, states his views in an unprejudiced manner about the 
 importance of gymnastics and bodily exercise for education. 
 
 (Ansioer.) 
 
 Berlin, May 18th, 1878. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I am much obliged to you for your kind 
 letter, dated April 17th, and I also thank you for 
 the copies of the pamphlet entitled, " Education 
 for the Military Service," by Dr. Stiirenberg of 
 Leipsic. 
 
 I have read the paper Tvith great interest. It 
 is written in a truly patriotic spirit, and shows 
 that the author must be a clever man, experienced 
 in war, who advocates that while the trainins: at 
 school should provide the pupil with knowledge, 
 
 s 2
 
 2 5o Selections from Letters. 
 
 scientific education, and moral principles, the 
 service in the Army should accustom him to 
 discipline, obedience, self-denial, and provide him 
 with tlie technical knowledge necessary for a 
 soldier. He distinguishes clearly between physical 
 development through gymnastics and other bodily 
 exercises, a necessary preparation for the service 
 in the Army, and the much overrated exercises 
 and games with the gun which, in the popular 
 view, would alloAv the time of service to be 
 shortened. 
 
 In this respect he refutes very strikingly different 
 superficial views on the subject ; and he also 
 shows in the comparison of the Spartan and 
 Athenian education, what is the result of an 
 education which subordinates the whole life to the 
 one purpose, the military service of a nation. 
 
 I sincerely hope that this paper may find an 
 extensive circle of readers. 
 
 With highest esteem, 
 
 I am, yours faithfully, 
 
 Count Moltke, 
 Field-Marshal.
 
 Education. 261 
 
 Ilerr RayJt, master at Ratzcburg, had sent on Oct. 11th, 
 1890, a paper written by him about the education of the 
 young in Germany. 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Crcisciu, Oct. 13th, 1890. 
 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 You liave had the kindness to send me 
 your newest pamphlet, wliich I have read with 
 the same interest as the former. 
 
 Indeed, the principal thing at school is not what 
 the boys learn, but rather liow their ininds are 
 trained. 
 
 I believe that greater attention has been paid 
 to physical training through gymnastics and 
 games, since the publication of the Imperial decree 
 which refers to these subjects. My wish is that 
 by implanting a patriotic mind in the child, every 
 boy should be provided with a kind of safe- 
 conduct for the period between his 16th and his 21st 
 year, from the time when he leaves school to the 
 time of his entrance into the great educational 
 institution, the Army. My wish is that they 
 should be able to see clearly the senselessness and 
 mischievousness of the democratic socialism into
 
 262 Selections from Letters. 
 
 which, as experience shows, they are only too 
 easily (l^a^vn dui'ing this dangerous period of life. 
 
 What pleases me especially in the Enghsh edu- 
 cation is, that, as you say, lying is not only con- 
 sidered wrong, but a dishonour and ungentle- 
 manly. 
 
 I thank you very much for your kind informa- 
 tion, and at the same time for your good wishes 
 for my birthday,, and remain, 
 
 Faithfully youi^s, 
 
 Count Moltke, 
 
 Field-Marshal. 
 
 Mr. Ernest W. Smith, Editor of the " Revue des Revues," 
 asks, by sending a paper with questions, which authors Moltke 
 preferred most :— 
 
 (Anstoer.) 
 
 Vos AuTEURS Favoris? 
 Quels livres ont ex- I Littrow, Les mer- 
 erce le plus d'influence veilles du ciel. 
 
 sur vous ? 
 
 La Bible. 
 Homere, Iliade. 
 
 Liebig, Lettres sur la 
 Chimie agricole. 
 
 Clausewitz, Sur la 
 Guerre.
 
 Education. 
 
 26 
 
 Quels livres relisez- 
 V0U3 avec lo plus de 
 plaisir ? 
 
 Schiller. 
 
 Goethe. 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 Walter Scott. 
 Ranke, Histoire. 
 Treitschke. 
 Carlyle. 
 
 Berlin, Xov. Uth, 1890. 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 In accordance with your wish, I send here- 
 with a list of those books which I believe have 
 influenced my way of thinking most. 
 
 I remark at the same time that I read the 
 " Iliad " when I was a boy of nine years old, so, of 
 course, it was only a translation. 
 Believe me, sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 Count Moltke, 
 
 Field-Marshal.
 
 CHARITY. 
 
 Dr. SiLLEM, of Hamburg, proposes to found homes for the 
 disabled soldiers of the Franco- German war. 
 
 (Answer,) 
 
 Berlin, March 31st, 1871. 
 
 In answer to your kind letter, I beg to say that 
 I shall have much pleasure in joining my co- 
 citizens of Hamburg ^ in providing for our disabled 
 soldiers, but I cannot completely agree with the 
 plan proposed by you. 
 
 The requests for admission into the Invalids' 
 Homes have been very few since the last wars. 
 Those Invalids who are in any way capable of 
 earning something can make better use of their 
 time, their strength and the pension which they 
 receive, by remaining in their own homes, where 
 they are more comfortable ; those who are quite 
 
 ' Moltke had been made an honorary citizen of Hamburg on 
 February 9th, 1871.
 
 Charity. 265 
 
 unable to eani any money usually manage to pay 
 their families for their keep and their nursing with 
 their pension. For tliose few who cannot obtain 
 the care and attention that they need, and who are 
 incapable of earning any money, the existing Homes 
 for Invalids arc quite sufficient. 
 
 According to universal experience, the best 
 way of helping invalids, is to provide them Avith 
 just sufficient money to keep themselves. The 
 funds of these Institutions form an addition to 
 the pensions and allowances of the State, and 
 are the means by which private and municipal 
 subscriptions can best be utilized for disabled 
 soldiers. These institutions can spend their funds 
 by allowing pensions (Crown Prince Institution 
 12,s'. to lbs. per month), or by granting small 
 capitals for the establishing of a business which 
 would contribute to the support of a family. 
 
 Which of these methods would be preferable 
 must be decided every time in each individual 
 case, according to the degree of capability of earn- 
 ing his livelihood, which the candidate shows. 
 
 Most of the invalids belong to the rural popula- 
 tion. Instead of increasing the population of the
 
 266 Selections from Letters. 
 
 towns by founding establishments for their main- 
 tenance, they would be helped best by the pur- 
 chase of small allotments. This would require 
 considerable means, but the greater part might 
 remain as mortgage on the land bought for this 
 purpose. The obligation of the owner to pay 
 off this debt in small instalments would have a 
 o;ood moral effect. 
 
 In the same way those invalid citizens who 
 have carried on a trade might be helped by the 
 outlay of a little capital, which would enable 
 them to recommence their old business. 
 
 These proposals would be less attractive than 
 the building of a home for invalids, but they would 
 give back to society working hands instead of 
 idle consumers, and they would further the 
 material well-being and the moral worth of those 
 who are thus supported. 
 
 I remain, your obedient, 
 
 Count Moltke.
 
 INTERNATIONAL LAW, POLITICS, 
 WAR. 
 
 Herr Alfred von Moltke, German-Consul General iu Loudon, 
 asks the Field-^Marshal (on May 27th, 1874,) to become one of 
 the patrons of the Universal Alliance, sending him at the same 
 time a pamphlet of this union, in which a diplomatic conven- 
 tion to ameliorate the fate of prisoners of war is proposed. 
 
 {Anf<wer.) 
 
 Creisau, June 2n(], 1874. 
 Dear Sik, 
 
 I have received your letter of the 27tli of 
 
 last month, and beg to ask you to be kind enough 
 
 to convey my thanks to Baron von Linden and 
 
 M. Henry Dunant for sending the " projet pouvant 
 
 servir de base, etc.," which I have read with great 
 
 interest. 
 
 The endeavour to make the prisoners of war more 
 
 comfortable in their imprisonment (since it must 
 
 never be made attractive) is very praiseworthy, and 
 
 is sure to find much sympathy. But what seems 
 
 doubtful to me is, if the well-meant terms of such 
 
 an agreement would be kept imder the pressui'e 
 
 of war. A convention, as j^roposed, concerning 
 
 the treatment of the wounded, already existed in
 
 2 68 Selections from Letters. 
 
 1870, notwithstanding which many of our medical 
 men who stayed behind to tend the wounded 
 French were led off as prisoners. 
 
 The ^^projet " says that any officer who breaks 
 his word may be punished with death. Yes, this 
 is all right, if he can be confronted by the man to 
 whom he gave his word of honour. But what if 
 this is not the case, and his own Government 
 makes him a General ? 
 
 We have treated our prisoners (and they were 
 whole armies) with great humanity, but we should 
 never have agreed to place them under the protec- 
 tion of representatives of neutral powers. I have 
 some scruples about some of the projected proposi- 
 tions, and in my position I am afraid I must decline 
 the honour of being counted one of the patrons 
 of the " Universal Alliance." 
 
 I am very pleased that this matter has given 
 me the pleasure of hearing from you, and I hope 
 that your official w^ork gives you satisfaction. 
 Requesting you to remember me to your wife, 
 I am, yours sincerely. 
 
 Count Moltke, 
 
 Field-Marshal.
 
 International Law, Politics, War. 269 
 
 The freneral of tlie Cavalry, von Hartinann, sends a pamphlet 
 to the Field-Marshal (on February 6th, 1878), in which tho 
 doctrinal tendency of the modern rights of nations and the 
 claims of military realism are scientifically treated. 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, February 18th, 1878. 
 
 I beg to thank Your Excellency sincerely for so 
 kindly sending your newest pamphlet, which I 
 have read with great interest. 
 
 Everybody who knows anything about war, 
 will be of your opinion, that it cannot be restricted 
 by narrow fetters. Its terrors can only be lessened 
 by means of strict discipline, the cultivation of 
 universal morality, and the individual humanity 
 resulting from progress made in this direction. 
 
 The clever and thorough treatment of the subject 
 -will contribute towards refuting the accusations 
 which have been raised against the warfare of 
 1870-71, though there were no generals who en- 
 riched themselves by booty as in former campaigns, 
 nor cruelties such as are reported from the present 
 combat in the East. 
 
 I am, 
 Your Excellency's obedient, 
 
 Count Moltke.
 
 •i']0 Selections from Letters. 
 
 Ilerr Karl Friedrich August Hauschild, at Herbergen near 
 Liebstadt, in Saxony, relates in a long letter of February 26th, 
 1879, bis views on the blessings that a decrease of the Army in 
 Germany would bring to the country. Ho requests the Field- 
 Marshal to influence His Majesty, Emperor William, in this 
 rospect. 
 
 Not date 
 
 of March, 1879. 
 
 Not dated, Berlin, the beginning 
 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 Who would not wish to see the heavy mili- 
 tary burdens diminished, which Germany is 
 obliged to bear surrounded as she is by the most 
 powerful neighbours. This state of affairs is not 
 the wish of the Princes and the Governments, but 
 happier circumstances cannot be expected until all 
 nations come to the conviction that every war, 
 even a victorious one, is a national misfortune. 
 
 To persuade people to take this view, even the 
 
 power of our Emperor would not avail ; it can only 
 
 arise from the better religious and moral training 
 
 of nations, which again must be a fruit of centuries 
 
 of historical development, which neither of us will 
 
 live to see. 
 
 With friendly greeting. 
 
 Count Moltke.
 
 I 
 
 SUGGESTIONS FOR THE I'ROMOTION 
 OF PERMANENT PEACE. 
 
 Privy Councillor Professor Dr. Bluntsclili writes : — 
 
 Heidelberg, November 19th, 1880. 
 
 I beg to send Your Excellency herewith some copies of the 
 Manual " Les Lois de la Guerre sur terre," which has been 
 written and published by the Society for the Maintenance of 
 International Rights, in accordance with the Brussels Declara- 
 tion, and orders recently given in some European States 
 and scientific literature. The endeavour of the Manual has 
 been to bring the exercises and the interests of the Army 
 into harmony with the necessary principles of right and the re- 
 quirements of the civil Avorld, and to explain martial law 
 in a manner which may be understood by the simple-minded 
 private and the common workman, yet in a correct and com- 
 prehensible form. 
 
 The undersigned, as also the reporter and the other members 
 of the Society for the Maintenance of International Rights, 
 would be much gratified if the little work, which is in- 
 tended for practical use, were to meet with Your Excellency's 
 approval. 
 
 With most distinguished esteem, 
 
 I am, your obedient servant, 
 
 Professor Bluntschli, 
 Privv Councillor.
 
 272 Selections from Letters. 
 
 (Anstcer.) 
 
 Berlin, Dec. lltli, 1880. 
 
 Honoured Herr Geheimratii, 
 
 You have been kind enough to send me the 
 Manual which the Society for the Maintenance of 
 International Rights has published, and you are 
 anxious to have my approval of it. 
 
 I perfectly honour the charitable endeavour to 
 lessen the sufferings which war carries in its train. 
 
 Permanent peace is a dream and not even a 
 beautiful one, and war is a law of God's order in 
 the world, by which the noblest virtues of man, 
 courage and self-denial, loyalty and self-sacrifice, 
 even to the point of death, are developed. With- 
 out war the world would deteriorate into material- 
 ism. I perfectly agree with that sentence of the 
 preface which announces that advancing civiliza- 
 tion will also improve warfare, but I go farther in 
 believing that it alone, and not a codified martial 
 law, will be able to attain this goal. Every law 
 necessitates an authority to enforce its execution, 
 and with international agreements there is no such 
 power. What State would take up arms, be- 
 cause one or both of the Powers engaged in war
 
 Promotion of Permanent Pkaci:. 273 
 
 have violated Les Lois dc la Guerre ? Tliere is no 
 such judge on earth. Success, in tliis case, must 
 he the result of the religious and moral training of 
 every individual, of the self-respect and sense of 
 justice of the leaders, who are a law unto themselves, 
 and act accordingly, as far as the abnormal cir- 
 cumstances of war permit. 
 
 And surely nobody will deny that in proportion 
 to the progress of morality humanity in warfare 
 has increased. 
 
 Only compare the lawlessness of the Thirty Years' 
 AVar with the wars of our times. 
 
 One important step that has been made durinn- 
 our life-time toM'ards reachino; the desired croal 
 is the introduction of a universal military service 
 which has brought the educated classes into the 
 Army. Of course the rough and violent elements 
 have also remained in it, but they are no longer the 
 only ones. 
 
 Tavo other effectual remedies remain in the 
 hands of Governments, to prevent the worst abuses, 
 namely, strict discipline, also to be maintained in 
 times of peace, and the administrative foresight 
 
 T
 
 2 74 Selections from Letters. 
 
 that provides for the victualling of the troops 
 during a campaign. 
 
 Without this precaution discipline can only 
 be maintained in a very limited degree. The 
 soldier who endures suffering and want, dan- 
 ger and exertion, cannot be satisfied ' en pro- 
 portion avec les ressources du pays," he must 
 have everything necessary to his existence. 
 One must not expect impossible things from 
 him. 
 
 The greatest kindness in war is a quick termina- 
 tion, and towards this end all means must be 
 employed that are not actually reprehensible. I 
 cannot at aU agree with the " Declaration de St. 
 Petersbourg " that the " weakening of the hostile 
 fighting power " is the only right proceeding in a 
 war. No ; all the resources of the hostile Govern- 
 ment must be afi'ected, her finances, railways, 
 victuals, even her prestige. 
 
 With such energy, and yet with more modera- 
 tion than ever before, the last war against France 
 was conducted. Th the course of two months the 
 campaign was decided, and only when a revolution- 
 ary government continued it for four months to the
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 275 
 
 ruin of her oavh country, did tliu fighting adopt an 
 embittered character. 
 
 I willingly acknowledge that the Manual states 
 in clear and short sentences, the necessities of war 
 in a hi^i-lier deoree than has ever been the case in 
 former attempts. But even the acknowledgment 
 by Governments of these suggested rules would 
 not insure their execution. It is a universally 
 recojrnized usage of war not to fire at an officer 
 carrying a flag of truce, and yet it was violated 
 several times during the last campaign. 
 
 No paragraph, even if learnt by heart, will per- 
 suade a soldier to treat as a regular enemy (§2 
 ad 45) an unorganized population which has spon- 
 taneously taken up arms, and from Avhich he is 
 not safe a moment by day or night. 
 
 Some demands of the Manual are impossible, for 
 instance, the identifying of the killed after the 
 battle. Other regulations would need gi-ave 
 consideration if the insertions "lorsque les cir- 
 constances le permettent, s'il se pent, si possible, s'il 
 y a necessite, etc.," did not give them an elasticity 
 without which the bitter earnestness of reality 
 would break the chains which they impose. 
 
 T 2
 
 276 Selections from Letters. 
 
 In time of war, when every circumstance must 
 be looked at separately, I tliink only those para- 
 graphs will bear effect which refer principally to 
 the leaders. And what is said in the Manual 
 about the wounded, the sick, the medical men and 
 sanitary materials comes under this heading. The 
 universal recognition of these principles, as well 
 as those about the treatment of the prisoners would 
 be a marked progress towards the aim which the 
 Society for the Maintenance of International Rights 
 is striving to attain with such praiseworthy per- 
 severance. 
 
 I am, Sir, your obedient, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 The discussion is continued in the following letter Ly M. 
 GoubarefF : 
 
 Villa GoubarefF at Eeaulieu, Alpes Maritimes, 
 
 France, February 4th, 1881. 
 Herr Graf, 
 
 I have had the pleasure of reading in a newspaper the 
 letter which you have addressed to Herr Bluntschli, professor 
 of law in Berlin, in reference to the manual of martial law, 
 which was adopted at the last session of the Society for 
 the Maintenance of International Eights at Oxford. 
 
 Having a deep respect for your great intellect, I ask you to
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 277 
 
 allow me, in my capacity as momber of the " Socictc dcs Amis 
 de la Paix " ami the " Association for the Keform and Codifi- 
 cation of the Law of Nations," to communicate to you my 
 personal views upon the war question, upon the ailvantages of 
 peace and the means of obtaining it. 
 
 Doubtless it is a great comfort to look at the brightest side 
 of things here on earth, and in all the vicissitudes of life to 
 believe that good will come out of evil ; but this is an illusion 
 which cannot be of long duration, we shall all be, in the end, 
 obliged to bow down before that great power, which is called 
 truth ! However, there are people who assert that war, this 
 monster, this crime celebrated in song, which is an insult to 
 our century and to our civilization, this cause of our financial 
 failures, .awakens new life and new bloom in the transactions of 
 life, and that the loss of millions of men who are torn away from 
 their fatherlands and their families frees the earth from over- 
 population, and that the defeated and oppressed nations, though 
 tliey lose their freedom and independence, have compensating 
 advantages. Even misery, they say, has the advantage of 
 awakening sympathy. 
 
 Bat what is the difference between such a case and that of a 
 patient who rejoices in his incapacity of doing anything, 
 because it gives him, at least, the certainty of never doing 
 anything that he might be sorry for afterwards ; or of a phy- 
 sician (and unfortunately there are many such) who rejoices in 
 an epidemic because it provides him with patients 1 Is it right 
 to rob one's neighbours to find an opportunity of helping 
 them t Or to roll stones before the cart to increase the exer- 
 tions of the labourer 1 Is it right to ruin some nations so as 
 to enrich others 1 to set the neighbour's house ou fire in order to 
 have the glory of putting the fire out 1 To make a slave of 
 one's self to procure the enjoyment of being set free 1 
 
 What is the result of all these errors which time has changed 
 into customs'? It is that personal rather than general welfare
 
 278 Selections from Letters. 
 
 is most considered ; and it is forgotten that personal well-being 
 is dependent upon general well-being, that man is exclusively 
 a sociable being, and that the moral power with which he is 
 endowed is a power whose existence is only justified so long as 
 it is reciprocal ; that if tliis power becomes egotistical it divides 
 individuals, families, nations and the whole of humanity into 
 centres which repulse one another, and which can only pre- 
 serve their existence by fighting. Oh, these wars ! They 
 sweep away the healthiest, and prevent the physical and con- 
 sequently the moral development of the human race, counter- 
 acting tlie intention of nature which sacrifices the weak to the 
 strong ; they increase the calamities that already embitter life, 
 and they cause free competition and free trade, those natural 
 promoters of progress and universal welfare, to be supplanted 
 by lawless Utopias which encourage vice and incite each other 
 to Avrong. 
 
 I beg to send you the memorandum in which I have ex- 
 pressed my ideas about the questions of the day, and my 
 pamphlet " La force morale." I place great reliance on your 
 judgment, and hope that you will do me the honour of sending 
 me a few lines concerning my opinions, if you have confidence 
 in my perfect discretion. 
 
 Will you accept the expressions of my highest esteem, with 
 ■which I remain, 
 
 Your obedient, 
 
 GOUBAREFF. 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, February lOth, 1881. 
 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 You have liad the goodness to send me a 
 memorandum in which you express your opinion
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 279 
 
 on the serious questions of the present time, and 
 you have shown me the honour of asking my 
 views on the subject. I must restrict myself to 
 discussing your opinions of warfare from my point 
 of view. 
 
 You dechire that every war is a crime, even 
 though it has often been celebrated in verse ; I 
 believe it to be a last but quite justifiable resort 
 to maintain the existence, independence and 
 honour of a state. 
 
 With the advance of civilization it may be hoped 
 that the employment of this last resort will be- 
 come more and more rare ; but no state will ever 
 be able to dispense with it entirely. Is not the 
 life of man, his Avhole nature, a battle of that which 
 is to be with that which is ? and so it is in the life 
 of nations. AVho can deny that every war, even 
 a successful one, is a misfortune for a nation ? for 
 no acquirement of territory, no milliards of money 
 can make up for the loss of human life or can wipe 
 away the grief of families. 
 
 But who is able to escape misfortune in this 
 world, or who can even run away from the burdens 
 of Hfe ? Are not both by God's providence condi-
 
 2So Selections from Letters. 
 
 tions of our eartlily existence? Our great poet 
 makes Max, not Wallenstein, say : 
 
 ' /,S)cr jtrieg ift fdjrcrtlid) iric bc6 >^immelS flagon/ 
 Doi\ i\i cc gut/ if! cin ®cfct)icE irie ftc." 
 
 And that war has also its good side, that it brings 
 out virtues which would otherwise lie dormant or 
 die altogether, who can deny ? 
 
 Of course it is much easier to praise the happi- 
 ness of peace, than to determine how it can be 
 secured. To balance the interests of nations 
 which are so often at variance, to settle their 
 disputes and in this wise to prevent war, you pro- 
 pose to institute in the place of diplomacy a 
 permanent assembly of members chosen by the 
 nations. I have more confidence in the discern- 
 ment and power of the Governments themselves, 
 than in such an areopagus. The era of cabinet 
 wars belongs to the past ; and to-day there is 
 hardly a ruler who would take upon himself the 
 great responsibility of drawing the sword without 
 the utmost need. If only governments were 
 strong enough to keep do^Mi the passions which 
 excite nations to wage war ! ^ 
 
 1 Schiller: Wallenstein, Part III., Act 11., Scene 2. 
 
 Tin's PDiTie thou^'lit is oxpro?sod bj' the Field-Marslial in
 
 Pkomotion of Permanent Peace. 28 i 
 
 In your memorandum you lay special stress 
 upon the warlike propensities of the Teutonic race ; 
 I be;^ you to p^o through tlic history of our 
 century, and to judge if the wars have been begun 
 by Cerinany. 
 
 Germany has won her goal — her reunion ; she 
 has not the least occasion to go in search of 
 adventurous martial expeditions, but she may be 
 forced to stand on the defensive, and she must be 
 i)repared to do so. I sincerely wish with you 
 that this necessity may not occur. 
 
 As to the conclusion of your esteemed letter, 
 I have no objection at all to its publication with 
 my answer. I am, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Count ^Ioltke. 
 
 (Letter moM Professor Dr. Jansen.) 
 
 Berlin, March, 6th, 1881. 
 YoDR Excellency, 
 
 Most honoured General Field-Marshal. Of tliose who 
 read with interest and admiration your Excellency's views on 
 tlie discussions on Permanent Peace, or rather on the ideal 
 significance of war, only very few will have the privilege of 
 
 the introduction to his history of the war of 1870-71. Compare 
 " The Franro-Oermnn AVar of 1870-71."
 
 2«2 
 
 Selections from Letters. 
 
 communicating their sentiments on this matter to yon. I 
 should be the last to usurp this favour. But just as 
 your Excellency's second letter is being published, my 
 thoughts have been directed by my studies to Kant^ whose 
 views upon the matter correspond most strikingly with your 
 ideas and sentiments. As I am convinced that they will be of 
 interest to you^ I take the liberty of quoting them, and if, 
 which is only too probable, you shoidd already be acquainted 
 with them, I ask you to excuse my zeal, which solely arose 
 from the satisfaction of seeing a general and a philosopher in 
 complete harmony in regard to the most sublime question of 
 political morality. 
 
 1790. Kant. Kritik der aesthetischen Urtheilskraft. IV., 
 120. 
 
 What is it which fills even the savage mind with the deepest 
 admiration 1 A man who neither fears nor is afraid, who 
 therefore does not shrink from danger, but at once with due 
 deliberation goes vigorously to work. 
 
 This special reverence for the warrior continues to be found 
 among those of highest civilization, but they require in addition 
 that he should exhibit all the virtues of Peace — gentleness, 
 compassion, and even seemly care of his own person- — just 
 because the invincibility of his mind in danger is evinced 
 thereby. And although in comparing the Statesman, and the 
 General, we may differ as to the measure of the esteem which 
 each deserves, yet aesthetic opinion has given sentence in favour 
 of the latter. Even war, when conducted with discipline, and 
 due respect for civil rights, has about it something ennobling, 
 and when so conducted elevates a people in proportion to the 
 peril to Avhich they are exposed, and which they have the 
 courage to sustain. On the other hand a long peace fosters a 
 mere commercial spirit, together with a base egotism, cowardice 
 and effeminacy, and thus has a degrading efiect on the mind of 
 a people.
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 283 
 
 1793. Religion innerhalb dur Gienzen der Vemunft, X. 36. 
 
 Note. . . . That man can conceive, and aim at something 
 Avhicli lie values more than life itself — Honour, for the sake of 
 which he renounces Self ; this is a proof of some nobility of 
 character. 
 
 1795. Of Permanent Peace . 
 
 War itself requires no special motive, but seems to be grafted 
 upon human nature^ and is even looked upon as something 
 noble, to which man is inspired by mere sense of honour with- 
 out thought of self ; so that the warlike spirit is reckoned of 
 great value, not only, as might be expected, when war is going 
 on, but also as its producing cause ; for war is often begun 
 merely to show that there is in itself, a secret worth such as 
 honoured by wise men, as a thing ennobling to humanity. 
 
 1786. VII. 380 . . . Only when civilization is complete, 
 and God knows when that may he, can permanent peace be 
 desirable or even possible for ns. 
 
 1790. IV. 330. In spite of the horrors which it brings upon 
 the human race, and the perhaps even greater burdens which 
 constant preparation for it entails in time of peace, war is yet 
 one incentive the more for developing to its utmost extent 
 every talent which assists the progress of civilization. 
 
 The General, who while discharging present duties yet takes 
 thought for the future, has warmer interest and more lively 
 utterance for the idealism which manifests itself in real life, 
 than the philosopher, who rather considers himself a citizen of 
 more perfect times to come. And thus Kant in the passages 
 quoted above, does not quite rise to the eloquence of which he 
 is capable. For contemplating time and space as mere concep- 
 tions, he fixes his mind entirely upon ultimate aims, and 
 disregards the centuries which separate us therefrom. Per- 
 manent peace is for him in any case an impracticable idea, 
 but yet he believes in a continual approach to it ; IX. 204 ; 
 and he finds the means to that end, in a legitimate state
 
 284 Selections from Letters. 
 
 of federation according to the universally concerted right of 
 nations, YII. 225. 
 
 " We see," he himself says, " I'hilosophy can also have its 
 Millennium." VII. 330. Speculation may calmly and con- 
 fidently follow him into the future. But the more the possibili- 
 ties which he places there as realities, are, and can be but 
 subjective views and visions, the more is it allowable, even 
 if in another sense from that in which he used the words, " to 
 conform the critique of pure reason with the critique of practical 
 sense." He himself must admit that at the stage of civilization 
 which the human race has now attained, war is an indispeiisable 
 means of advancing it still further. VJI. 380. 
 
 Consequently all those sentences in Avhich he praises war as 
 a means of intellectual and moral culture, retain their value 
 for all those to whom a thousand years are not as one day. 
 
 I cannot even claim the small merit of having myself collected 
 the quoted passages from Kant's works ; they are to be 
 found in the book by Dr. Conrad Friedrich, Kant and Rousseau, 
 1878, page 138, etc. Bat I read them with a great feeling of 
 gratitude and esteem for Your Excellency, sharing in this 
 respect the views of all subjects of our nation. 
 
 I remain. Your Excellency's 
 
 always obedient servant, 
 Professor Dr. Jansen, 
 formerly Master at the Royal 
 War Academy. 
 
 (Answer,) 
 
 Berlin, March 8tli, 1881. 
 
 Much honoured Herr Professor, 
 
 In reply to your kind letter of the 6th inst. 
 
 accept my most sincere thanks for the kind en-
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 285 
 
 closure of some quotations of" Kiint on the ideal 
 importance of war. As I was not ac(|uainted 
 with them, I was greatly interested in reading 
 them and having my views confirmed in this 
 direction. 
 
 With hiirhest esteem, 
 
 '> 
 
 Your obedient servant 
 
 Count Moltke 
 
 General Field-Marshal. 
 
 The Weaver ]\Iaster, Ehrenfried Hessel, in a letter dated 
 April 15th, 1881, explains his views on the question of the 
 necessity of war and the possibility of permanent peace, agreeing 
 with the views expressed in the correspondence of the Field- 
 Marshal with Bluntschli, etc., and opposed to the attacks of 
 the Berlin press. 
 
 (Anstver.) 
 
 Berlin, April 17th, 1881. 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 I beg to thank you for your letter which 
 shows such clear judgment, and is dictated by 
 much common sense. 
 
 The attacks from the press make little im- 
 pression upon me ; they are founded upon — perhaps
 
 286 Selections from Letters. 
 
 intentional — misrepresentation, as if I wished for 
 war, because I believe it to be an unavoidable 
 evil. 
 
 I am, 
 
 "■j 
 
 Your obedient servant 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 Dr. Ludwig Halm sends a copy of his work just published 
 " The Army and the Fatherland." (Xov. 1883.) 
 
 (A7iswer.) 
 
 HoNOuiiED Herr Geheimrath 
 
 Creisau, Nov. 14th, 1883. 
 
 I sincerely thank you for sending me your 
 interesting and patriotic book. The publication 
 will be of the greatest value in a time Avhen on all 
 sides and even in the Reichstag, attacks are made 
 upon the institutions of our Army, without which 
 a Reichstag would not exist at all. 
 
 For how many years people have talked of 
 German Unity in poetry and song, had national 
 meetings and shooting meetings, taken resolutions, 
 Avhich resulted in nothing as long as " logos " was 
 merely translated by " the word." Not until our
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 287 
 
 Emperor ^vith Roon created tlie Army, and 
 Bismarck made the " deed " unavoidable, was there 
 power to realize this possibility. But now again 
 only the word is rulin<^. 
 
 The terms in which you speak of me have given 
 me much pleasure, but ha\'e also put me to shame ; 
 I know how mucli T owe to otliers and to timely 
 circumstances. 
 
 Hoping that your health may further enable 
 you to continue your literary work, I remain with 
 high esteem, 
 
 Faithfully yours. 
 
 Count Moltke, 
 
 Field-Marshal. 
 
 Mauritz MohP sends two pamphlets (Stuttgart, January 
 14th, 1878) written by liimself. One is directed against the 
 attempt to cause a social democratic movement against indirect 
 and all other legitimate taxation, the other recommends the 
 introduction of a tobacco monopoly. The pamphlet ends as 
 follows : 
 
 "I am always extremely happy when I may dare to submit 
 any work of mine to your Excellency, because it gives me the 
 opportunity of showing to the greatest man of all times, the 
 liveliest expression of unbounded reverence and esteem." 
 
 ' Well-known national economist.
 
 28S Selections from Letters. 
 
 {Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, January 18th, 1878. 
 
 Honoured Sir, 
 
 I- have read with the greatest interest your 
 two essays which contain so much thorougli know- 
 ledge, and which you had the kindness to send me 
 on the 14th inst. 
 
 Your refutation of Herr Carl Mayer is very 
 striking. If he makes a point of the voter know- 
 ing how much he pays, direct taxation is not 
 wanting in clearness. AYith the income-tax every- 
 body knows exactly how much he pays, but he 
 also knows how it burdens him. The fact that 
 indirect taxation is hardly noticed at all, is to me 
 its best recommendation ; moreover it is voluntary, 
 everybody can avoid it if he likes, as long as it 
 affects the right object. 
 
 One of the most serviceable taxes has always 
 appeared to me to be the taxation of petroleum, 
 but it was defeated upon the simple question of 
 '' taxation of light." I even confess to be a 
 heretical partisan of the salt duty, though it is 
 quite a necessary of life. It seems right to me 
 that even the poorest man should pay something,
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 289 
 
 liowever little, to the Government which protects 
 and shelters him. Tlic poor man avIio Ijuys his salt 
 by ounces just as he -wants it, will not receive any 
 advantage if tlio tax is lessened or abolished alto- 
 gether. The state would lose a great income from 
 the retailer. 
 
 It is indisputable that tobacco is a luxury and, 
 according to your clever exposition, its taxation 
 would be a great source of income if the state 
 monopolized it. It would be no great burden for 
 the wealth)' man to pay a little more for his cigars. 
 And how much fictitious value has already attached 
 itself to them, is another consideration. The 
 supei^ne cigar is often nothing more than a 
 common one Avith another label. Many people, 
 blindfolded, do not know red wine from white, 
 perhaps under the same circumstances they would 
 not be able to distinguish between a Havanna and a 
 Vieri'adner. 
 
 I hope that the logic of your figures will not 
 fail in its purpose, and ask you to j^ardon my 
 remarks as those of one who does not pretend to be 
 an authority in the matter Avhich is so ably treated 
 by you. 
 
 IT
 
 290 Selections from Letters. 
 
 The expression of your great esteem I can only 
 
 answer ATitli a quotation from Faust : 
 
 /,®uve ^cflid)!cit erfrcut raid) fct)v ! 
 2cl} b'.n cin fJJIann \m aubre mct:i'-" 
 
 And with special esteem, I am, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 ]\Ioritz Mold sent the Field-Marshal an article which had 
 appeared in a daily paper and which was written hy hiin 
 (Stuttgart, Feb. 10th, 1887), against "the senseless behaviour 
 of the majority of the dissolved Keichstag." He then con- 
 tinues : '^The whole of Germany knows that if France wishes 
 to be crushed again, your Honour would lead the German flag 
 to the most brilliant victories," 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, Feb. 11th, 1887. 
 Much honoured Herr Geheimrath, 
 
 I beg to thank you for so kindly sending 
 your article. If anything can bring good people 
 and bad politicians to reason, it is words such as 
 you have spoken. 
 
 Your much overrated but sincere, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 Field-Marshal.
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 291 
 
 Mr. Sidney Whitman sends tlie FielJ-Murslial his pamphlet 
 on " Inijierial Germany." ' 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, January 21st, 1889. 
 
 Honoured Siu, 
 
 I have read your study on Germany with 
 great interest. 
 
 Certainly every State requires a government 
 suited to its individual idiosyncrasies. A con- 
 stitution like that of En^-land — secure throuirli her 
 isolated jjosition and gradually developed out of 
 the national character, could not possibly be repro- 
 duced on the continent. 
 
 France, again, has tried — for now about a 
 hundred years — alternately, monarchy in different 
 forms. Empire and Republic, without coming to 
 any definite result. 
 
 Only so recently imited as an Empire, Germany 
 is an upstart, an intruder into the family of 
 European States. In the midst of mighty neigh- 
 bours we are convinced of the need of a strong 
 monarchy, and I have been glad to see that you 
 
 ' Translated into German by Alexander. Berlin, 18S9. 
 
 u 2
 
 292 Selections from Letters. 
 
 do fall justice to the traditional '' paternal Govern- 
 ment " of tlio Holienzollern. 
 
 I am much obliged to you for so kindly sending 
 your clever pamphlet. I am, 
 
 Your humble servant, 
 Count Moltke, 
 Field-Marshal. 
 
 Dr. D., of London, sent an article on socialism. 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, Dec. 10th, 1890. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I herewith return with many thanks the 
 essay which you kindly sent to me, and about which 
 you wish to hear my opinion. 
 
 I quite share your view that real social progress 
 can only be made slowly and by degrees. Natura 
 non facit saltiim, and civilization just as little. 
 Above all it is necessary to enlighten the lower 
 classes as to their own interests. That must be 
 the work of the School and the Church for the next 
 century. But we are standing, may be, quite 
 close before the eruption of a mighty movement,
 
 Promotion of Permanent Peace. 293 
 
 and lia\c to ])rcparc already to face the danger. 
 Your wish is that the social democrats might take 
 a less revolutionary position towards " the great 
 number of the educated poor," and that they should 
 be friendly witli tlicm, ])ecause then a blessed 
 change could be effected without the shedding of 
 blood. 
 
 Do you believe it possible that any judicious, 
 well-meaning and educated man could guide to a 
 sensible conclusion the movement of the dissatisfied 
 masses whose purpose is to plunder and to pull 
 dovni ? I fear that he would perish as their first 
 victim. It is just against the middle class that the 
 hatred of the mob is directed. Look back to the 
 commune of 1870. It destroyed the monuments of 
 French glory, it murdered the priests, plundered 
 the shops, but it left the house of Rothschild 
 unmolested. 
 
 In every revolution those v/ho have tried to Ije 
 the leaders, have ahvays been ruined first. The 
 moderate parties have always been carried away 
 1)y the extreme. Of all the men who took leading 
 parts in the French revolution, not one escaped the 
 guillotine. And the leaders of the German demo-
 
 294 Selections from Letters. 
 
 crats begin to see already tliat it is easier to 
 stir up the masses than to guide and restrain 
 them. 
 
 I am of opinion that the much-needed social 
 reform can only come from the higher ranks, 
 through a strong kingdom which possesses the 
 necessary will and power, and such a kingdom we 
 have in Germany. 
 
 The taxation of the poorer classes has been 
 decreased already, even done away with altogether, 
 and that rightly at the expense of the wealthy 
 classes. Insurance for the sick and also for acci- 
 dents is doing a great and blessed work. In a few 
 days the law for Invalids and Old Age Pensions 
 will come into power. The further progress of 
 these state provisions can only be hindered, or at 
 least deferred, by the imprudence of those for 
 whom it is intended, and in such a case a display 
 of power is a necessity. 
 
 The law against the social democrats was a 
 more humane proceeding ; it was a preventive. 
 Should it fail, nothing will be left but severe 
 repression. 
 
 It appears to me then, sir, that it would be
 
 Promotion gi-' Permanent Peace. 295 
 
 better if the educated poor sided with the conser- 
 vative elements which support Government in its 
 salutary endeavours, than that they should make 
 common cause with those who work against it 
 and at the same time against their own wel- 
 fare. 
 
 I am very sorry to see from the end of your letter 
 that you are in very needy circumstances. I re- 
 gret to say I have so many obligations that it will 
 be impossible for me to render you any lasting and 
 effective help. 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 CoUlJfT MOLTKE. 
 
 In March, 1891, a -well-known French chauvinist wrote to 
 the Field-Marshal that " he intended to bring about press- 
 polemics to see if it were possible for France and Germany to 
 be reconciled and on what conditions. He had therefore 
 applied to parliamentary authorities (the letter was addressed 
 to le Comte de Moltke, depute du Eeichstag) in order to pub- 
 lish their answers in his newspaper, and he promised to publi?li 
 them correctly." 
 
 The Field-Marshal received this letter in the Herrenhaus 
 (Upper House) and wrote his answer, as was his habit, at onco 
 on the back of the sheet which contained the order of the day : 
 
 I believe a reconciliation between Geimany and
 
 296 Selections from Letters. 
 
 France to be possible, because sensible. The con- 
 dition is a candid recognition of the treaty of 
 Frankfort. 
 
 This answer wss, however, not posted, as the Field-Marshal 
 was informed hy trustworthy people about the inquirer.
 
 LETTERS OF CONGRATULATION, 
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT, etc. 
 
 To Count von EglofTstcin at Arklitten in East Prussia. 
 
 Berlin, August 25th, 1866. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I thank you sincerely for having so kindl}- 
 remembered a younger comrade of the General 
 Staff. I ha^'e read Avith great interest your " part- 
 ing words," and I hope that before your actual 
 departure your heart has been gladdened by the 
 valour of the grandchildren of those heroes who 
 fought by your side during the wars of liberation. 
 
 The death of bra^-e Koniger, a real Prussian at 
 heart, and whose fate it was to die pierced by 
 Prussian bullets in the fight against Prussia, is a 
 proof of the untenable position of Germany. My 
 
 ^ Count von Eglolfstein's letter, which was the occasion of 
 this letter, is not fortlicoming.
 
 298 Selections from Letters. 
 
 attention had been dra^^Ti to Koniger by liis ex- 
 cellent essays. I Avas in correspondence with him, 
 and hoped to have him for the war-history section 
 of the General Staff as soon as my staff was en- 
 larged. 
 
 In reference to your kind mention of my part in 
 the last successful events of the war, I may say 
 that these words have often come into my mind : 
 " The Lord is strong in the weak." 
 
 Please to accept the assurance of my most 
 sincere esteem, and believe me to remain. 
 
 Yours Faithfully, 
 
 MOLTKE, 
 
 General and Chief of the 
 General Staff, 
 
 Count Egloffstein writes on January IGth, 1881 : — 
 It is the heartfelt wish of a veteran of eighty-five to offer to 
 Your Excellency a visihle proof of his good wishes and blessings, 
 hefore he is called away by God Almighty. 
 
 I have given to my nephew, who enjoys the honour and 
 happiness of being under Tour Excellency's command and 
 leadership, the letter which you once wrote to me after God 
 had done so much through you, and when you gave Him 
 thanks for what He had done. That is the most beautiful leaf 
 in Your Excellency's wreath of laurels.
 
 Letters of Congratulation, Etc. 299 
 
 "Will you kindly reniomber a vcleran and tired pilgrim, who 
 is preparing for the grand recall ? 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, January 25th, 1881. 
 
 Honoured Herr Graf, 
 
 Please to accept my heartiest thanks for 
 your kind lines, dated IGtli inst., which were de- 
 livered to me by your nephew. According to 
 God's gracious providence both of us have reached 
 old age, I being only four years behind you, and 
 must both be prepared to be called away soon ; 
 may God be a gracious judge to us. 
 
 With best wishes and true esteem, I remain. 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Count Moltke, 
 Field-Marshal. 
 
 The General of the Cavalry, Baron von Manteufifel, sends his 
 good wishes for the New Year. (Nancy, December 30th, 
 1871.) 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, January 3rd, 1872. 
 I sincerely thank your Excellency for the kind 
 lines of the 30th of last month, and beg you to
 
 300 Selections from Letters. 
 
 accept my best wishes for the New Year. May it 
 bring more light to the world, and make even 
 enemies and malicious enviers see the great things 
 you have done for King and Fatherland. The un- 
 prejudiced and well-informed can appreciate them 
 already, but the blind majority will be more in- 
 fluenced by the relation of them in history than 
 in the press. 
 
 May God keep you in good health and in un- 
 abated strength in your important place. 
 With sincere esteem, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 The North American historian and statesman, George Ban- 
 croft, from 18G7 to 187-4 ambassador in Berhn, wrote on 
 February 18th, 1885 :— 
 
 We -were born in the same month of the same year. I am 
 twenty-three days older than you. I am in excellent health, 
 and hope to hear the same of you. The remembrance of our 
 friendship during my stay in Berlin is still a joy to me in my 
 old age. I keep my former opinion that the union of Germany 
 is the greatest event of our century. My wife, who, I am glad 
 to say, is in good health, joins me in best wishes. 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Berlin, March 3rd, 1885. 
 
 I am glad to learn from your Excellency's kind
 
 Letters of Congratulation', Etc. 301 
 
 letter of the 18tli of last month, that you still wi.sli 
 me well even on the other side of the ocean. 
 
 From time to time I hear news of you from 
 your countrymen, and I hear that your activity 
 enables you to continue the rides, in whicli I 
 so often had the honour of accompanying you 
 here. 
 
 The high significance which you rightfully 
 attach to the union of Germany, whose friend 
 you have always shown yourself, is certainly 
 justified ; I think that a powerful and yet peace- 
 able state in the heart of Europe is the greatest 
 security for lasting tranquillity in this part of the 
 world. 
 
 May you retain, for many years to come, the 
 twenty-three days by which you are in advance of 
 me,^ and asking you to give my kindest regards to 
 your wife, 
 
 I remain, your most devoted, 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 As an example of llie Field-jMarshal's terse eloquence wo 
 give here the following toast, which he gave at a farewell dinner 
 
 ' Bancroft died on January 17lh, 1890, at Washington.
 
 302 Selections from Letters. 
 
 of the officers of tlie Great General Staff in honour of a 
 departing comrade in the year 1883. 
 
 To-day, when our guest is leaving our circle to 
 occupy a high place as Commander in the Army, 
 we remember the many years during which he has 
 belonged to us. Many of you, gentlemen, honour 
 in him a master and leader, all of us a genial 
 superior, and amiable comrade. To me he has 
 been a faithful companion in two campaigns, and 
 a firm support in peace. While uniting our good 
 wishes for his future let us join in a hearty cheer. 
 " Hurrah ! "
 
 VARIOUS PROOFS OF ESTEFM. 
 
 TuE Directors of the Berlin Anlialter Railway Company asked 
 for permission to give the name of " Moltko " to a new engine. 
 
 (Aiiswer.) 
 
 (Place not named), April 13th, 1872. 
 
 I beg to thank the honoured directors for the 
 
 intended compliment. I hope that the engine 
 
 which will bear my name may traverse as great 
 
 distances as I have done during my life with God's 
 
 gracious help. 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 Nominated a member of the Imperial Eussian Academy of 
 Science at St. Petersburg. 
 
 From the President of the Imperial Academy of Science at 
 
 St. Petersburg. 
 
 December 5th (17th), 1871. 
 
 To His Excellency Count Helmuth von Moltke, Field- 
 Marshal and Knight of sublime orders. 
 
 Illustrious Count, 
 
 The decisive part which your Excellency has taken iu 
 the recent historical events which have insured the triumph
 
 304 Selections from Letters. 
 
 of true civilization, has engraved your name for ever ia the 
 annals of history. Will your Excellency permit your glorious 
 name to be added to the list in the Imperial Academy of 
 Science, to leave a testimony to coming generations of the ad- 
 miring recognition of your great deeds 1 Requesting you to 
 accept the enclosed diploma of an honorary member of the 
 Imperial Academy of Science, 
 
 I remain, your Excellency's 
 
 Obedient Servant, 
 
 Count Fu. Lutke, 
 President. 
 
 (^Aclcnowledgment.) 
 
 To the President of the Imperial Russian 
 Academy of Science, Knight of the highest orders. 
 
 The Admiral Count Liitke, Excellency. 
 
 Berlin, December 24th, 1871. 
 
 I am sorry not to have found your Excellency 
 at home, when I paid you my farewell visit at St. 
 Petersburo- ; will you, therefore, allow me now to 
 express my sincere thanks to you for the distinc- 
 tion which has been conferred on me by my ad- 
 mission to the Imperial Academy of Science. I 
 esteem it a special honour to see my name recorded 
 Avith those whose scientific reputations are known 
 tliroughout the world. Besides the enormous
 
 Various Proofs of Esteem. 305 
 
 progress that true humanity has made in the vast 
 reahn of Russia during the last decade and a half, 
 these splendid institutions for Science and Art show 
 the attention paid to the highest intellectual 
 development. 
 
 I beg to express to your Excellency, as the 
 worthy promoter of progress in this department, 
 the high esteem with which I remain, 
 Youi' Excellency's obedient servant. 
 
 Count Moltke, 
 Field-Marshal.
 
 LITERARY HOMAGE. 
 
 Hoffmann von Fallersleben sends the following lines 
 
 For the 26th of October, 1873. 
 
 SBem gilt am tjeutigen Sage 
 Seg Saiifeg ©ang unb SCort? 
 din ^elb tfi tjcute getoven^ 
 ©ott ijat it)n augeuforen 
 3u Deutfd^lanbg ©egcnSt)ort. 
 
 ®a§ bifl Du, eblcr ?0>oItfe ! 
 Sanf ®ti- »iet taujenbrnal! 
 S)u !rieggcrfal)rfner 2)en!cr 
 S)u fid)erer ©d)(ad)tcntenfer/ 
 35u glucElid)ec ©encral. 
 
 Su t)a|l bag 23olf; baS nur bad^tC/ 
 3um Sfiatcnoolf gcmad)t j 
 3Den ©kg ftctg oorbeveitct/ 
 3u 9tut)m unb (St)r' un6 geleitet 
 2)uvd) mand[)e gludUd)e ©d)lac^t. 
 
 ©0 fei bcnn t)cut' unb immer 
 >perjinnig S)ciner gebacl)t. 
 Unb nod) in fcrnen Sagen 
 ©oil S)eut[d)lanb fingen unb fagen 
 SCag S)ii fiic ung »oUbrad)t. 
 
 ©d)lo^ Soroei). I^offmann iion JpallcrsUften.
 
 Literary Homage. 307 
 
 (Acknowledgment.) 
 
 Creisau, Oct. 26th, 1873. 
 My heartiest thanks to the celebrated poet at 
 Schloss Corvey for the verses, which no other but 
 himself could have Avritten. 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 Professor Dr. Felix Dahn had sent for the Field-Marshal's 
 ninetieth birthday his play " Moltke " (first part : at Walhalla, 
 1870; second and principal part: in Moltke's camp, 1870; 
 third part : conclusion, 1890), and other poetry of his, dedicated 
 to the Field-Marshal. 
 
 To Professor Felix Dahn in Berlin. 
 
 Creisau, Oct. 17th, 1890. 
 
 Much honoured Here Professor, 
 
 It is a great honour for me that my ap- 
 proaching birthday has caused a man of your high 
 literary fame to celebrate my actions in your play 
 and your beautiful verses, though I feel that my 
 merits are far too small to be deserving of it. The 
 good opinion of me which you reveal in these 
 works, is all the more valuable to me as it is that 
 of a writer who has given me many happy hours 
 by his works, especially by the " Kampf um Rom." 
 
 Will you accept, dear Sir, my most sincere
 
 3o8 Selections from Letters. 
 
 thanks for your wi'itings as well as for the amiable 
 expressions which accompanied them ? 
 
 Your obedient Servant, 
 Count Moltke, 
 Field-Marshal. 
 
 A young lady belonging to the Alsacian aristocracy had 
 written a mimher of poems which celebrated " The Life and 
 Deeds of the Field-Marshal." She made inquiry through a 
 friend, if the Field-Marshal would condescend to see the poems 
 and allow her to dedicate them to him. 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Creisau, June 20th, 1877. 
 
 I fully appreciate the compliment paid to me 
 by a young lady writing poetry in my honour. 
 But in such a case a special dedication would not 
 be necessary, and I think I would rather decline 
 the offer with thanks. 
 
 My life has hardly been poetical enough, and I 
 must confess that I should much prefer all remarks 
 on me to be postponed to a distant future. 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 A publishing firm, which was preparing a biography of the 
 Field-Marshal, asked for kind information for the use of the 
 author.
 
 Literary Homage. 309 
 
 (Answer.) 
 
 Creisau, July, 20th, 1877. 
 
 I gratefully recognize the kind intention, but I 
 take the liberty of remarking that biographies of 
 living men can hardly be anything else but so 
 many panegyrics, which everybody puts aside as 
 tedious. An impartial judgment must be left till 
 after the death of the person in question. 
 
 Fate willed that I was not to be placed in such 
 circumstances as to excite universal interest till I 
 was advanced in age. Nobody would be interested 
 in my earlier years. iUl that is at all noteworthy of 
 this period is already known through letters which 
 have been published. 
 
 The character of a man is a riddle difficult to 
 solve, even for his relations, how much more so for 
 strangers. Herr ^ . . . would not be able to give 
 a true picture of me, even if he could build on the 
 uncertain foundation of personal acquaintance. 
 
 I should like to leave it to posterity to give its 
 opinion about me, and as the work has luckily not 
 been begun yet, I can only sincerely hope the idea 
 
 will be abandoned. 
 
 Count Moltke. 
 
 ' The author.

 
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