The success of Cavour had raised a desire to imitate him; a strong impulse had been given to the national feeling, and a society, the _National Verein_, had been founded to further the cause of United Germany under Prussian leadership.

The question of the recognition of the new Kingdom of Italy was becoming prominent; all the Liberal party laid much stress on this.

The Prince Regent, however, was averse to an act by which he might seem to express his approval of the forcible expulsion of princes from their thrones.

As the national and liberal feeling in the country grew, his monarchical principles seemed to be strengthened.

The opinions which Bismarck was known to hold on the French alliance had got into the papers and were much exaggerated; he had plenty of enemies to take care that it should be said that he wished Prussia to join with France; to do as Piedmont had done, and by the cession of the left bank of the Rhine to France to receive the assistance of Napoleon in annexing the smaller states.