“In view of the circumstances, I ought perhaps to have sent in the foregoing dutiful petition immediately after the change which deprived me of the honour of direct intercourse with your Serene Highness. Had I taken such a step at that time, however, it might have been misunderstood; and I moreover had still to inform myself fully as to the purport of the instruction to ‘support our policy,’ in order to avoid possible mistakes; and, furthermore, I was anxious to be able to bequeath to future generations a picture of your Serene Highness’s life, painted not only with affection but also with knowledge. The latter has been for years past, and will remain, my sole ambition. It will at the same time afford me compensation for the loss of personal intercourse with your Serene Highness to renew it more actively in the spirit. “Although during the three years which I have spent here I have certainly not acquired nearly sufficient positive information, I hope I have made considerable progress in freeing myself from political prejudices, as well as in _matter-of-factness_. One can, moreover, never leave off learning, although in other studies a triennium is considered sufficient. “I may, therefore, confidently hope that your Serene Highness will kindly grant my dutiful petition; and perhaps I may not be disappointed if I add the fainter hope that when I begin the larger biography which I have in view, your Serene Highness will give me assistance similar to that which others would appear to have had before me. “However that may be, I shall leave here with the same deep sense of veneration for the regenerator of our nation with which I came, and will act accordingly. With this feeling will always be associated a grateful recollection of the days, so happy for me, when I was permitted to have personal intercourse with your Serene Highness, and particularly of the seven months of the great war, when that intercourse was most direct, and when I sometimes believed myself justified in thinking that I enjoyed your Serene Highness’s good will. “Your Serene Highness’s “Dutiful and devoted “Dr. Moritz Busch.” I read over this paper first of all to Bucher, who approved of it as being “perfectly dignified,” and who, on his own suggestion, laid it before the Chief in an open envelope. The Prince read it through carefully, and then said, “I suppose he cannot get on with Aegidi.” Bucher replied that he was not acquainted with our relations, and only knew that I was not satisfied with my present position. The Chief then finally ordered: “Do not let it go through the office, but hand it direct to Bülow, who should see me about it.”