and the seamy side of English Parliamentary life and the weaknesses of their leaders, Palmerston, Gladstone, the “Doctor supernaturalis” Cobden, and the whole gang of hypocritical and egotistic apostles of English Free Trade were illuminated by a light of truly electric brilliancy and clearness. It was a ruthless exposure of a kind that has rarely been witnessed.[1] In 1860 Bucher, probably tired of working for the press, thought of emigrating to Central America, where he had acquired a piece of land (which was still in his possession twenty years later), in order to become a coffee planter under his own palms and mangrove bushes. Fate decided, however, that he belonged to growing Germany, and the amnesty of that year permitted his return to Berlin. Here he renewed his former friendship with Rodbertus, and made the acquaintance of Lassalle, to whom his intercourse soon became indispensable, while Bucher on his side felt attracted in many ways towards Lassalle. The Socialist agitator was a very different character to his heirs of to-day, a man of the highest ability, with whom Bismarck himself did not disdain to correspond, a respected _savant_ who was highly esteemed by Bockh, and a resolute patriot who was only led into folly by his boundless ambition. As a follower of Hegel, he belonged to a different school of thought to Bucher, but was yet in agreement with the latter in his belief in the “iron law of wages,” and like him convinced that the State alone could reform the evils from which the labouring classes suffered. Bucher’s former political associates on the other hand belonged to the Manchester school, considering that the true way of salvation lay in “laisser-faire” and free competition, that is to say, in the destruction of the weak by the strong. They further swore by the principle of the _Nationalverein_, and detesting the idea of war for this purpose, they wished to unite Germany under Prussia by “moral” means, by a “popular policy,” speeches, and leading articles, and by athletic, singing and prize-shooting festivals. In this respect also Bucher, as a practical politician and contemner of phrases, was of a decidedly different opinion to his friends of the _National Zeitung_, and the difference in their views led gradually to an estrangement which was accompanied by an inward approach to Bismarck’s standpoint in the German question, resulting ultimately in the co-operation of the two. Bucher had severed his connection with the _National Zeitung_, and was by no means satisfied with the position which he afterwards took in Wolf’s Telegraph Agency. He therefore thought of seeking work as a lawyer, and wrote to the Minister of Justice on the subject. Bismarck heard of his plans through the latter. He asked Bucher to see him, and offered him occupation at the Foreign Office, which was accepted after some little hesitation. Bucher, the whilom Democrat, the former member of the Prussian party of the Mountain, who had hurled oratorical