[208] Driven from Frankfort, the remnants of the National Assembly collected at Stuttgart, and the Revolutionary party, giving the signal for open insurrection in Germany, took up arms in Saxony, in the Rhine Palatinate, and in the Duchy of Baden, overthrowing governments and securing victory everywhere until the Prussian troops established order. Saxony and Hanover then agreed with Prussia upon a new Constitution, and concluded the so-called alliance of the Three Kings; but Austria, who desired to become predominant in Germany, opposed the Prussian views and induced Saxony and Hungary to withdraw. Frederick William IV. then organised the Union with the remainder of his adherents and opened the Diet of Erfurt where the new Constitution was accepted. Then Austria, to prevent the recurrence of any similar project, induced the German States to re-establish the old Germanic Confederation, and this plan was executed in spite of Prussian opposition.
[209] The Duc de Noailles had been elected to the Academy in the place of Chateaubriand. He, with M. de Broglie and M. Pasquier, there formed a small clique, known as the dukes' party.
[210] The Abbé Dupanloup had recently been appointed Bishop of Orléans under the Ministry of Falloux, then Minister of Worship and Education.
[211] Lord Palmerston's residence in 1849.
[212] The Archduchess Elizabeth had lost her husband, the Archduke Ferdinand Charles Victor of Este, on December 15, 1849: in 1854 she married the Archduke Charles Ferdinand. She was the mother of Queen Marie Christina of Spain and the Archdukes Frederick, Charles Stephen, and Eugène.
[213] From the "Henriade," Canto I.
[214] M. de Persigny, aide-de-camp to the Prince President and elected representative to the Legislative Assembly in 1849, was occupied at Berlin upon a temporary mission, with no great success.
[215] A royal message, which had been expected for several days, had been presented to the Prussian Chambers in the session of January 9. The formation of a hereditary peerage was then announced, while the introduction of financial measures was to be the privilege of the Second Chamber, and the King was to take an oath of fidelity to the Constitution. Numerous modifications were introduced for the purpose of restriction, but the King did not make his oath a condition sine qua non, but thought he was fulfilling a conscientious duty in thus submitting his scruples to the Chambers.
[216] Russian Minister at Berlin.
[217] Extract from a letter.