because it is wrong as being a breach of the Divine commandment, and unfair to man, who requires rest. That of course does not apply to the service of the State and in particular to the diplomatic service, in which despatches and telegrams are delivered on Sundays which must be dealt with at once. There can also be no objection to our country people saving their hay or corn on a fine Sunday after a long spell of bad weather. I could not bring myself to coerce my farmers in those things.... I can afford to do as I think right myself, as the damage done by a possible rainy Monday would not affect me. Our landed proprietors consider that it is not respectable to allow their people to work on Sunday even in such an emergency!” I mentioned that pious families in America do not even cook on the Sabbath, and that on being once invited to dinner in New York on a Sunday there was only cold meat on the table. “In Frankfurt,” said the Chief, “when I had more liberty we always dined very simply on Sundays, and I never ordered the carriage out on account of the servants.” I ventured to remark that in Leipzig all shops were closed on Sunday, with the exception of the bakers’ and some tobacconists. “Yes, that is as it should be; but I do not want to put pressure on anybody. I might possibly do it in the country by not buying from a tradesman--that is if his goods were not of exceptionally high quality, for then I do not know whether I should be able to stand firm. Care should be taken, however, that noisy trades, such as that of the blacksmith, should not be carried on in the neighbourhood of a church on Sunday.” I was summoned to the Minister in the evening. “Thile[12] writes to me,” he said, “that the _Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung_ has a terrible article against the Catholics. Is it by you?” “I do not know which he alludes to, as I have recently called attention on several occasions to the proceedings of the Ultramontanes.” He then searched for the extract, which he read over half aloud. “But that is perfectly true and correct. Yes, that’s quite right. Our good Thile has been thoroughly taken in by Savigny. He has gone out of his wits and howls because we have not rescued the Pope and his whole family.” We were thirteen at table to-day, Dr. Lauer being one of the number. I pointed this out to Bucher, who sat near me. “Don’t speak so loud,” he replied. “The Chief has a very sharp ear, and he is superstitious on that point.”[13] _Monday, October 10th._--Called to the Chief twice during the morning. He went subsequently to the Crown Prince’s quarters, where he remained for lunch.