S6S LIFE OF
two great German powers, was laid towards the end of
1811., or the beginning of 1812. It Is said that the first
and most important steps between the two nations were
made by the monarchs themselves, and that only through
the hands of their most confidential advisers. But the
work must have been more easily effected when a
man like Hnrnboldt had laid the preliminaries. The
king came from Berlin to Prague, and proceeded to
the baths of Toplitz in June, 1812. The presence of
his monarch in the capital of Bohemia brought Hurn-
boldt thither. Immediately afterwards he obtained
leave of absence, and visited his Thxiringian pos-
sessions, probably only as a feint. He arrived in
Berlin In August, and returned from, thence, no doubt
furnished with the most important Instructions, to his
post at Vienna.
More quickly than had been anticipated, and under
more fortunate auspices, came the great day of
liberation. The catastrophe in Russia, the depar-
ture of the king from Berlin to Breslau, the junc-
tion of the Prussians and Russians,—these news
succeeded each other like lightning flashes. The
advocates of resistance now stood forward supreme,
a "well-regulated complete force, whom the govern-
ment had to emulate in energy and activity, if
they would not lose their authority. The ambas-
sador at the court of Vienna was accurately in-
formed of all that passed at home. Theodor Korner,
who was in Vienna, wrote to a friend in Dresden, in
February, 1813: "You may imagine that ray soles
burn since the address of the King of Prussia to the
volunteers has reached me. Through the Prussian
ambassador here, Herr von Humboldt, I am accu-
rately informed of the popular feeling In Prussia, and
of all that is being done in Breslau/' In March the
Prussian landwehr was summoned, the king Issued
an address to his people, and the formal declaration
of war was made; the struggle commenced on the
plains of Saxony, even before Austria had declared
Itself, or thrown its influence in the scale.