Tuesday, July 19:
The Bavarians, thank God, are going along with Prussia; the Austrians, disgraceful as always, with France. My heart is heavy; R., however, tends, rather, to be cheerful; conditions in Germany were too unsavory, this war could once again show what the Germans are. I think of the message I gave Herr Klindworth for Hans; what a hard school must a poor mortal go through in order to solve the riddles of life!
R., who had almost completed his essay “Beethoven and the German Nation” in his own mind, cannot now capture the mood to begin it. Outward events do not affect the core of the matter, but they are unsettling, and the inner lantern stops glowing, the winds of Fate blow the flame hither and thither.
In the afternoon a visit from Baron zu Weichs, who tells me many heartening things about the state of the German army, and, among other things, that Colonel Rüstow has been in Paris, acting on behalf of Count Bismarck, for the past 4 weeks. Telegram to Richter; Mendès, Villiers, etc., are arriving; and indeed in the evening they are with us. Feelings of great embarrassment, though the dear people are friendly. We make music.