I should be glad to fight against Bonaparte till the dogs lick up the blood but with no more malice than against Croats, Bohemians, and Bamberger fellow-countrymen." The two friends were never to meet again.

The old King of Prussia died at the beginning of the next year, and Gerlach, who had served him so faithfully, though perhaps not always wisely, survived his master scarcely a week.
In the summer of 1860 Bismarck returned to his duties in Russia; and this time, with the exception of a fortnight in October, he spent a whole year in St.Petersburg.He had still not recovered from the effects of his illness and could not, therefore, go out much in society, but he was much liked at Court and succeeded in winning the confidence both of the Emperor and his family.

His wife and children were now with him, and after the uncertainty of his last two years he settled down with pleasure to a quieter mode of life.

He enjoyed the sport which he had in the Russian forests; he studied Russian and made himself completely at home.

Political work he had little to do, except what arose from the charge of "some 200,000 vagabond Prussians" who lived in Russia.