BISMARCK AND PRINCE FERDINAND
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have been interested in reading the paragraph on Prince Ferdinand's election as Prince of Bulgaria in 1887, in My Early Life. I think the following extracts from some unpublished memoirs written by a Scotsman who was A.D.C. to Duke Ernest, the head of the House of Coburg, are worthy of publication in the Spectator. The Duke was staying in his villa at Nice, and Prince Ferdinand had come to consult Contra°, December 17th, 1886.
Ferdinand of Coburg is here thought little of. They say he is like a woman, fond of rings and jewellery. His brothers dislike him. E. has just told me that wishing for the Bulgarian throne is only his ambition and that he did not consult any of his relations. The Duke has written to tell him he is a fool, and he has written back apologising or something of that sort. E. says he can't be the King.
• April 13th, 1887.
I had just returned from Italy and I was staying in Nice with my wife when the Duke sent for me and said he was very sorry but he must send me to Berlin with a letter to Bismarck. I started at once and ran straight through. On my arrival I found that Bismarck was at Friedrichsruh so I went on directly. Count Rantzau met me at the station and said his Father-in-law would see me at once. The house was only a few yards off. When the estate was given to Bismarck by the nation, this house was on it, and he would not build a new one but only enlarged it a little. As soon as I entered he said, " I suppose you know what is in the letter t " I told him I did. He said he would guess, but his guess was not correct, whereupon he put the letter in his pocket without opening it, and said, " You have had a long journey in the train, so we will go for a walk in the forest."
The two large boarhounds accompanied us. He then discussed the contents of the letter, which it is now long enough ago not to be indiscreet to reveal. The Duke wished to ask his advice as to whether Prince Ferdinand should accept the Throne of Bulgaria, which had just been offered to him. Bismarck said, " I know Prince Philip, and Prince August, but I do not know him, do you ? " I said I knew him well as he was so often at Coburg. Then he asked what sort of a man he was. After I had told him, he said, " Is he rich ? " " Very," I replied, " and a rigid Catholic." " Well, tell the Duke that I give him the same advice which I gave to the King of Roumania, accept it :—" as ist immer ern angenehme erinnerung fur's leben " (" it will always be a pleasant remembrance for your life ").
At six o'clock we dined, a small party of four men only. During dinner the Forester entered, Bismarck turned to me and said, " Excuse me, but I have to speak to my forester on a business matter." " My wife says I am to tell you that if the washing bill is always so high she will bring a washerwoman with her from Berlin." " You see, Campbell," he laughingly said, " beside this washing bill, I have the whole of the European Politics on my hands.' When When the dessert came, he said, " You are an Englishman, so you must know about Port Wine. I have had such quantities sent me from different people that I should like you to try it." I had to confess that I knew nothing about Port Wine.
After dinner Dr. Schweninger took me aside, and said, " I know the Prince wants to talk to you, but I have to look after his health, so please say you are tired and don't keep him up after 11 o'clock."
We went into his study. " Now you must not mind my lying down," he said, " as I must keep my feet up." He took one of his long pipes, and a servant brought two largo mugs of beer. He told me that he had heard that people in England said he. did not like England, but that was quite a mistake as he admired it very much. It is like a game of billiards. England is a ball and Germany is another. They will always be cannoning but nothing more. I have been there once, and if I were younger I should like to go again, but I am too old now, even to go to Halberstadt to see my Regiment."
At 11 o'clock I got up and said, " I should like to go to bed." " Oh," he said, " I know who told you to say that ; just you stop if you are not too tired." I was only too interested in hearing him talk and it was 2 o'clock before we parted. Then he said, "low
ow what an Englishman wants for breakfast, he does not take a cup of coffee as we do, but a steak, and half a bottle of Port I "
In the morning his servant came to my room bringing these on a tray, and smiling broadly. Of course I said I could not possibly take it, and asked for a cup of coffee, which he went for, but said he had been obliged to bring it, as the Prince particularly ordered him to do so.
.[Bismarck took Campbell into his bedroom and showed him the only two pictures in the room, hanging on each side of his. bed. One was the portrait of his wife, and the other that of Disraeli. Pointing to it he said, " That is'a man for whom I have the highest admiration."—S. E. C.]
• April 16th, 1887.
Although the journey, was very trying. I was much rewarded as Bismarck asked me to stop the night there and I dined with him. I sat on his right at dinner as only his son-in-law dined besides myself. We spoke-about everything, and he said, " I have the song, The Campbells are Coming. It was very interesting and after dinner we had a long talk for some hours alone together. He told me a great deal more than I expected, and he is against the plan, which I have telegraphed to the Duke. Ile asked me -a great deal and I seldom had a more agreeable conversation.
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