CHAPTER I. ON THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. [1851-1859.] Ambassador.-Interview with the King.-Lieut.-General von Rochow.-Anecdotes. -Frankfurt.-Reception of the Prince of Prussia.-Society at Frankfurt.-The King's Birthday.-Position of Prussia.-Correspondence. T some resting-place on a journey into Pomerania which Bismarck undertook in the early spring of 1851, he heard from several persons of his appointment as Ambassador to the Diet in Frankfurt-on-the Maine, where the Diet was just then re-assembling. That this was not true he knew, but that he was very likely intended for the post he considered far from impossible. He thought deeply over the matter; the reflection was a novel one, but by no means unwelcome; to him a parliamentary career had become the less pleasing the longer he had followed it-he was not vain enough for that: his manly selfconfidence, however, was considerable, and perhaps he thought of his mother's predictions. On his return to Berlin, after mi 218 AMBASSADOR AT FRANKFURT. nute self-examination, he determined to accept the position of Ambassador to the Diet, should it be offered him. We do not know whether the idea of intrusting Bismarck with this office-unquestionably the most important which Prus sia at that time had to fill-first occurred to Frederick William IV. himself, or whether it was the thought of the Minister von Manteuffel; at any rate it was founded on the assumption that Bismarck would be a persona grata to Austria, as it was then Prussia's problem to treat of German politics with the best understanding towards Austria. It was the custom of Frederick William IV., who more than proved how dear every thing that concerned Germany was to his heart, to select his Ambassador to the Diet with the utmost care; and the delicate circumstances of the time rendered the necessity for caution all the greater. Yet, it will be said, on this occasion his choice fell upon a man who |