METTERNICH

Metternich was an Austrian diplomat who was at the centre of European affairs for four decades as the Austrian Empire's foreign minister from 1809 and Chancellor from 1821 until the liberal Revolutions of 1848 forced his resignation. After a brief exile in London, Brighton, and Brussels that lasted until 1851, he returned to the Viennese court, only this time to offer advice to Ferdinand's successor, Franz Josef.The sovereignty question contested between King Frederick William (specifically Frederick William IV of Prussia) and Baron Heinrich von Gagern centered on whether a unified German Empire's crown should be offered by a popularly elected assembly or be granted by the existing German princes based on the principle of divine right. Heinrich von Gagern was a prominent liberal politician and the President of the Frankfurt National Assembly, the first all-German parliament formed during the 1848 Revolution. The Assembly drafted a constitution for a unified Germany under a constitutional monarchy and, in March 1849, voted to offer the hereditary imperial crown to the King of Prussia. King Frederick William IV, however, was a staunch believer in the divine right of kings and an absolute monarchist. Ultimately, his rejection of the imperial offer in April 1849 led to the failure of the Frankfurt National Assembly and the collapse of this attempt at German unification. TranscriptionRichmond ce 26 avril 1849Mon cher Twiss, J'ai reçu la lettre ci-jointe du secrétaire de l'Athenaeum. Je vous prie de me marquer ce quej'ai à lui répondre. Je suis tellement ignorant dans les questions de l'espèce que j'ai recours à votreconnaissance. Les questions entre Berlin et Francfort vont, les feuilles publiques le prouvent, un train qui se résume à mes yeux, entre les deux, en un prononcé sur la valeur ou la non valeur de la Souveraineté princière ou de celle du peuple. Comme en toute chose, un point est la chose que grossissent des conséquences hélas accessoires du point dominant, c'est la question de la. Souveraineté qui se débat entre le Roi Frédéric Guillaume et le Baron de Gagern avec son cortège de Professeurs. Ce qui en tout état de cause est certain, c'est que le terme moyen entre les deux lutteurs n'existe pas ; il est question de couronne ou de bonnet. De quel côté sera le triomphe ? Je suis très agréablement établi ici. J'ai le temps à moi et c'est tout ce que je demande. Venez nous voir quand vous aurez un moment à perdre ; nous serons toujours charmés de vous voir. Bien des hommages. MetternichTranslationRichmond 26 April 1849 My dear Twiss, I have received the enclosed letter from the secretary of the Athenaeum. Please tell me what I should reply to him. I am so ignorant of matters of this kind that I must rely on your knowledge. The issues between Berlin and Frankfurt are proceeding, as the public papers show, in a manner that, to my eyes, comes down to a pronouncement on the value or worthlessness of princely sovereignty versus that of the people. As in all things, a side issue is magnified by consequences that are, alas, incidental to the main point; it is the question of Sovereignty that is being contested between King Frederick William and Baron von Gagern with his retinue of professors. What is certain in any case is that there is no middle ground between the two combatants; it is a question of crown or cap. Which side will prevail? I am very comfortably settled here. I have time to myself, and that is all I ask. Come and see us when you have a moment to spare; we shall always be delighted to see you. With kindest regards, Metternich