e improved, and lost freedom to be regained.

From the extreme east of the State, where now the greatest strength of
the Prussian bureaucracy is at the head of affairs, a new organisation
of the people began. Serfdom was abolished, landed property made free,
and self-government established in the cities. The exclusiveness of
classes was broken, privileges done away with, and a new constitution
for the army was prepared by Colonel Scharnhorst. Whatever power of
life there was in the people was now to have free play.

In the year 1808, Prussia was no longer fainthearted; it began to raise
its head hopefully, and looked about for aid. The first political
society formed itself; "_tugendbund_,"[46] education unions, scientific
societies, and officers' clubs, all had the same object--to free their
Fatherland, and to educate the people for an approaching struggle.
There was much trifling and immoderate zeal displayed, but they
included a large number of patriotic men. Messengers ran actively with
secret papers, but it was difficult for the unpractised associates to
deceive the spies of the enemy. Dark plans of revenge were proposed in
many of these unions; and desperate men hoped, by a great crime, to
save the Fatherland.

Hopes rise higher the following year: the war has begun in Spain;
Austria prepares itself for the most heroic struggle that it has ever
undertaken. In Prussia, also, the ground is hollow beneath the feet of
the stranger; all is prepared for an outbreak; and the Police
President, Justice Gruener, is one of the most active leaders of the
movement. But it is not possible to unite Prussia with Austria; the
first great rising of the people wastes itself in single hopeless
attempts. Schill, Doernberg, the Duke of Brunswick, and the rising in
Silesia fail. The battle of Wagram destroys the last hope of Austria's
help.

The courage of many sinks, but not of the best. Unweariedly do the
friends of the Fatherland exercise themselves in the use of fire-arms;
the Prussian army, also, which does not amount to more than 42,000 men,
is secretly increased to more than double that number; and in all the
military workshops the soldiers sit as artisans working at the
equipments for a future war.

A second time do the hopes of the people rise; Napoleon prepares
himself for war against Russia. Again is the time come when a struggle
is possible; already does Hardenberg venture to tell the French
ambassador, St. Marsan, that