“So far the Chief. I venture to add a few ideas which I imagine will be in accordance with his views. In order to avoid irritating the King, it would be wise to speak of the ‘absolute _monarchy_,’ and to add a few words in recognition of his former services, suggesting that the old gentleman, who from the traditions of his whole life and from his military training is thoroughly devoted to his duty and very strict in the transaction of business, will not give his approval until he has thoroughly mastered the subject under consideration. As to Parliament you might say that it contains no stable majority upon which a Government could rely or which could furnish a Ministry. The reasons are: the immaturity of our Parliamentary life; the after effects of a merely theoretical knowledge of politics; conflicting elements produced by the course of events--the Guelphs, Particularism, Ultramontanism; the influence of the University Students’ Associations; consequently a crumbling into fractions--a Holy Roman Empire split up into three hundred territories. Perhaps a reference to England. There are some points in my pamphlet on Parliamentarism which deal with Ireland. Conclusion, perhaps: That we have to make up in a few years the leeway lost by our forefathers during centuries. “If you like, I will look through the manuscript. Please in that case to send it to the Wilhelmstrasse. “With friendly greetings, “Bucher.” “P.S.--I have thought of another conclusion, and would suggest the following: What is to be done? The public calls for Imperial Ministers. They will doubtless come in time, but it is very questionable whether, _cæteris paribus_, the friction will be less when the Chairman and the Directors of the Imperial Chancellerie are more independent of each other. Two or three people are under the impression that everything would go on better if they were to succeed the Prince. It is true that nobody believes it except themselves. Therefore, long live the Chief! The Pretenders are Keudell and Arnim. The first bides his time; the second is engaged in active intrigues.” In 1874, when the differences broke out between the Prince and Arnim, I immediately applied to Bucher, and asked for directions as to the way in which I could make myself most useful. I received an answer without delay, and during the month of May various communications reached me. On the 3rd of May, for instance, I received the following sketch of an article for the _Courier_:--