The other Courts of Germany were lukewarm, Austria was extremely hostile.

The Kings of Hanover and Saxony retreated from the alliance on the ground that they would enter the union only if the whole of Germany joined; Bavaria had refused to do so; in fact the two other Kings had privately used all their influence to prevent Bavaria from joining, in order that they might always have an excuse for seceding.

Prussia was, therefore, left surrounded by twenty-eight of the smaller States.

A Parliament from them was summoned to meet at Erfurt in order to discuss the new Constitution.

Bismarck was elected a member of it; he went there avowedly to protect the Prussian interests.