Last Saturday the German Emperor was present at the dinner
"for the Province of Brandenburg," and made an optimistic speech. He complimented his audience on being members of the present prosperous community of Branden- burg. They were unlike those members of the Mark who had laid their grievances before the Emperor Sigismund, and
unlike those who had been saved from ruin only by the efforts of Frederick VL He advised his hearers when they were depressed to do what he himself did in similar circumstances— look back upon the times when the country was not what it is now. The following passage, which we quote from the Times,
was characteristic of the whole speech :-
"I think that we can be content with the conditions which prevail to-day, despite those elements of imperfection which inevitably attach to all things earthly. Protected by an Army ready for battle and by an ever-growing Navy from foreign arrogance, and from the onslaughts of war, the countryman is able in our ordered commonwealth to till his land, the merchant, the manufacturer, and the artisan to follow each his business, and the labourer to be certain of his well-deserved hire."
We are glad to be able to take this and similar sentiments as proof of the complete recovery of the Emperor from his illness. At all events, he is well enough to fulfil his engage- ment to watch the Army manoeuvres in Switzerland.
