Further instalments of the Memoirs, published in Friday's papers, are
even more sensational in their character than those first given to the world. There is a striking account of an interview between Prince Hohenlohe and the Empress Frederick at the time of the Emperor Frederick's death, which runs as follows :—
"Prince Herbert Bismarck, the Empress added, had the impu- dence to tell the Prince of Wales that an Emperor (Kaiser Frederick) who was unable to carry on a discussion was really incapable of ruling. The Prince of Wales said that, if he had not attached importance to the good relations between Great Britain and Germany, ho would have thrown Prince Bismarck out of the room. As to Bismarck pere, the Empress declared that he was a false and unscrupulous man, who would not mind plunging his Fatherland in destruction if his personal ambition were satisfied."
Prince Hohenlohe went after the audience to the Prince of Wales, who was then at Potsdam. "The Prince," he says, "spoke guardedly, but was disgusted at the rudeness of the Bismarcks, both father and son. The Prince cannot understand the policy of irritating France." The last remark is specially interesting when read in con- nexion with recent events. It is curious to notice that the present Emperor was at first, like all the rest of the world, afraid of Bismarck. "I noticed that the Emperor formed no opinion, and did not dare to express a view differing from that of the Chancellor." It is curious to find Prince Hobenlobe saying that Prince Bismarck described the Emperor Frederick as a cold and selfish man without heart, and mentioned several instances in support of his view. A very interesting conversation with the present Czar is also reported, which shows his friendliness towards Great Britain and the British, but his distrust of their policy.
