MR. ELLIS BARKER AND PRINCE BISMARCK. [To ma Boum or
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Sra—I have not been able to refer to the hitherto unpublished material brought together with so much industry by Mr. Ellis Barker in his article in the Nineteenth Century, but certain points strike me on the face of the article which seem to me to require further elucidation. Every one knows that from time to time Bismarck published what were called "His Revelations" in the Hamburger Nachrichten, a paper issued at Hamburg, which is not far from Bismarck's home at Friedrichsruh. The editor of the paper, or some member of the editorial staff, was in the habit of paying, I think, weekly, or at all events frequent, visits to the fallen Chancellor, who. it was understood, inspired the articles and the whole tone of the paper. But it seems to me rather strong to say, as Mr. Barker says, that Bismarck "wrote" all the articles ascribed to his pen by Mr. Barker. I am speaking, as I said, without baying inspected Mr. Barker's materials in the original, but I wish to ask: Are these articles signed by the Prince, or are they merely generally worded editorial reproductions of Bismarck's supposed opinions gathered from conversations, or what are they P It appears from Busch's book, Vol. III., r. 379, that Bismarck at the time these articles were written was very old, and what is called "dotty." It is stated in the book "Hoffmann of the Nachrichten comes every week and prints whatever the Prince says to him, quite indifferent to the fact whether it is a well-considered statement or the con- trary." I think we should be careful before we accept these
articles as history.—I am, Sir, &c., V. DE S. FOWEE. New University Club, St. James's Street.
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