Moreover, it was the first time in the history of Europe in which one of these struggles had conclusively ended in the defeat of Parliament.

The result of it was to be shewn in the history of every country in Europe during the next thirty years.

It is the most serious blow which the principle of representative government has yet received.
By the end of August most of the labour was completed; there remained only the arrangement of peace with Saxony; this he left to his subordinates and retired to Pomerania for the long period of rest which he so much required.
During his absence a motion was brought before Parliament for conferring a donation on the victorious generals.

At the instance of one of his most consistent opponents Bismarck's name was included in the list on account of his great services to his country; a protest was raised by Virchow on the ground that no Minister while in office should receive a present, and that of all men Bismarck least deserved one, but scarcely fifty members could be found to oppose the vote.

The donation of 40,000 thalers he used in purchasing the estate of Varzin, in Pomerania which was to be his home for the next twenty years..