Thereupon I ordered Herr von Tschirschky to prepare the way for the dismissal of Herr von Holstein, which afterward took place, with the approval of tha Chanccllor, after the latter had recovered {from the serious break-down in hoallth which he had suffered meanwhile. Herr von Holstein himself showed what manner of man he was by going at once after his dismissal to Herr Harden and placing himself at the latter's disposal for the campaign against ithe Emperor.
The year 1901 gave Count Bilow plentiful opportunities to show and assert himself in dealings with England. Count Biilow still believed strongly in the Bismarckian theory of having "two irons in the fire'—i.e., in making friendly agreements with another country while always remaining terms with Russia—in which he received support from the many pretended adherents of Bismarck.
From the midst of the jubilee celebration of the 200th coronation anniversary, I was called to the deathbed of my grandmother. Queen Victoria, by a despatch announcing to me the serious condition of the Queen. I hurriedly made the journey with my uncle, the Duke of Connaught, who was at Berlin as the Queen's representative at the festivities—be was the favourite son of the Queen and my particular friend, and a son-in-law of Prince Frederick Charles—and I was cordially received in London by the then Prince of Wales and the royal family. my carriage drove out at a trot from the railway station a plainly dressed man stepped forward from the closely packed crowd standing there in absolute silence, to the side of the carriage, bared his head, and said: "Thank you, Kaiser." The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII., added: "That is what they all think, and they will naver forget this coming of yours."
Nevertheless, they did toget it, and quickly.
After the Queen had quietly breathed her last in my arms, the curtain fell for me upon many memories of childhood. Her death signified the dosa of an epoch in English history and in Germany's velations with England. I now got into touch, as far as possible, with prominent personages; and" noted everywhere a thoroughly, sympathetic, friendly spirit, which made no secre of the wish for good relations with Germany.
At the farewell banquet imprompt speeches were made by King Edward VII. and myself, which were cordial in tone and content, and did not fail to make an impression on their hearers. After the meal the English Ambassador at Berlin clasped my hand and said that my spoach had touched all his fellow-countrymen's hearts, because what I said was sincere and simple, as was fitting for Englishmen; that the speech must at once be made public, sines it would have an_ effect throughout the country, which was grateful for my coming; and that this would be useful to the relations between the two countries. I answered that it was a matter for the British Government and the King to decide, that personally I had no objections to having tha speech made public.
Nevertheless, it was not made public, and the British people never learned of my words, which were the sincere expression of my sentiments and thoughts. In amnother talk later on with me at Berlin the same Ambassador deeply regretted this, but was unable to say what the reason wag for this omission.
In concluding my remarks on my stay in England I cannot pass over the fact that a portion of thd German press was unfortunately
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.