NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE "Chancellor crisis," as it is called in Berlin, had not ended on Friday. Prince Bismarck, possibly for the reasons suggested elsewhere, possibly also for reasons which we shall not know for many years, persists in his opposition to the "Battenberg marriage," and the Empress Victoria per- sists in believing it expedient and wise. There is, therefore, a deadlock for the moment, though the Emperor, by post- poning his consent, has averted actual collision with his Minister. Whatever moves Prince Bismarck, he is obviously greatly moved; his journals reaffirm constantly hit intention to resign, and he takes no steps to punish attacks on the Empress Victoria which are most unusual in Germany, where, in a normal state of things, even criticism on Royalty is severely visited. The line of attack appears to be not that the Empress interferes too much, which in Germany, where women can neither reign nor transmit hereditary rights, would be intelligible, but that she uses her influence to pro- mote " English " and not German interests. There is no evidence that her Majesty is thinking of anything but her daughter; but Prince Bismarck clearly contemplates some plan of action which he thinks Englishmen will not like. He is especially bitter against Sir R. Morier, the able represen- tative of this country at St. Petersburg.
