“I thank your Majesty respectfully and cordially for the gracious Christmas present, and in particular for the gracious wishes that accompanied it. They afford me that full gratification which I should have felt in the Niederwald, had I been able to attend the festival. For me your Majesty’s satisfaction has a higher value than the approval of all others. I thank God that He has so disposed my heart that I have been able to secure your Majesty’s commendation, while I seldom obtain the approval of others, and then only temporarily. I also thank your Majesty for the immutable confidence always reposed in me for the long period of over twenty years, and for your Majesty’s constant graciousness to me as a master, in spite of the attacks of my opponents and my own well-known failings, in the most arduous as well as in quiet times. I require nothing more in this world, in addition to peace with my own conscience before God. God’s blessing has rested upon your Majesty’s rule, and has favoured your Majesty above other monarchs who have achieved great things, in so far as your Majesty’s servants can look back on their service with gratitude to your Majesty. The loyalty of the ruler generates and maintains the loyalty of his servants.[19]
“My wife returns her respectful thanks for your Majesty’s gracious greetings in the gracious letter of the 21st instant, to which I send a separate reply. She is slowly improving in health after a few weeks during which I was very anxious as to her condition. She requests me to lay her most humble respects and good wishes for the new year at your Majesty’s feet. At the present moment I myself am physically stronger than I have been for many years, and yesterday was able to take a ride of several hours in the woods with my two sons, who are staying here on a holiday. Although I may not as yet strain my nerves in intellectual work to the extent demanded by my position, I hope for a further improvement in this direction also if your Majesty will graciously permit me to remain here until the end of next month. God grant your Majesty a happy Christmas, health, and contentment.
“v. Bismarck.”
7.
“Varzin, September 2, 1884.
“Your Majesty has made the anniversary of Sedan a day of exceptional joy and honour to me by graciously investing me with the Order Pour le Mérite, at the same time increasing the significance of the distinction by the exceedingly gracious words which accompanied it yesterday. I am happy to see from this, and to realise on looking backwards over a long series of years, that your Majesty’s favour and confidence have been my constant and unalterable support, and that your Majesty’s consideration also compensates for my failing strength. Your Majesty’s recognition and good will is in itself the highest satisfaction to which I aspire in this world, but it is also a pleasure to me when the world ascertains that I have always been, and still am, in possession of the boon for which I have ever striven, viz., the favour of my earthly master. I will always faithfully and zealously endeavour to deserve it, so that your Majesty, as the highest and most competent authority, may recognise in me the heart and sentiments of a Prussian soldier. I desire no higher praise than that contained in those words, when they bear your Majesty’s signature.
“On the 11th I hope to lay my renewed thanks personally at your Majesty’s feet, and to see your Majesty in good health.
“v. Bismarck.”
8.
“Berlin, December 25, 1884.