best proof that it is dealing fairly and equitably with the very exaggerated claims and pretensions of all parties.  Anyhow, France will come out of the whole affair honourably and having done all that a strictly neutral power can do.”  The treaty was signed on July 13 by all the plenipotentiaries in full uniform.  W. said there was a decided feeling of satisfaction and relief that it was finished.  Even Bismarck looked less preoccupied, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.  Of course he was supposed to have had his own way in everything.  Everybody (not only the French) was afraid of him.  With his iron will, and unscrupulous brushing aside, or even annihilating, everything that came in his way, he was a formidable adversary.  There was a gala dinner at the Schloss, to celebrate the signing of the treaty.  “It was the exact repetition of the first, at the opening of the Congress.  I sat on the left of Bismarck, and had a good deal of conversation with him.  The Crown Prince and Princess were just opposite, and the Princess talked a great deal with me across the table, always in English.”  The Crown Princess could never forget that she was born Princess Royal of England.  Her household was managed on English principles, her children brought up by English nurses, she herself always spoke English with them.  Of course there must have been many things in Germany which were distasteful to her,—­so many of the small refinements of life which are absolute necessaries in England were almost unknown luxuries in Germany,—­particularly when she married.  Now there has been a great advance in comfort and even elegance in German houses and habits.  Her English proclivities made her a great many enemies, and I don’t believe the “Iron Chancellor” made things easy for her.  The dinner at the Schloss was as usual at six o’clock, and at nine W. had to go to take leave of the Empress, who was very French in her sympathies, and had always been very kind to him.  Her daughter, the Grand Duchess of Baden, was there, and W. had a very pleasant hour with the two ladies.  The Empress asked him a great many questions about the Congress, and particularly about Bismarck—­if he was in a fairly good temper—­when he had his nerves he was simply impossible, didn’t care what people thought of him, and didn’t hesitate to show when he was bored.  The Grand Duchess added smilingly:  “He is perfectly intolerant, has no patience with a fool.”  I suppose most people are of this opinion.  I am not personally.  I have some nice, foolish, kindly, happy friends of both sexes I am always glad to see; I think they are rather resting in these days of high education and culture and pose.  W. finished his evening at Lady Salisbury’s, who had a farewell reception for all the plenipotentiaries.  He took leave of his colleagues, all of whom had been most friendly.  The only one who was a little stiff with him and expressed no desire to meet him again was Corti, the Italian plenipotentiary.  He suspected of course that something had been arranged about Tunis, and was much annoyed that he hadn’t been able to get Tripoli for Italy.  He was our colleague afterward in London, and there was always a little constraint and coolness in his manner.  W. left Berlin on the 17th, having been five weeks away.