He remained here all the winter, and it was not until the beginning of March, 1860, that he was well enough to return to Berlin.

Leopold von Gerlach, who met him shortly afterwards, speaks of him as still looking wretchedly ill.

This prolonged illness forms an epoch in his life.

He never recovered the freshness and strength of his youth.

It left a nervous irritation and restlessness which often greatly interfered with his political work and made the immense labour which came upon him doubly distasteful.