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859 but I always tock it for granted that they were only rumors. 
16.2. But now, it seems to be stated so formally that it must be 
Wa settled thing. I wish you could find time,—(I know Fou 
have very little to spare) to write me a single line, just to 
say if the fact is really so. I cant tell you how much 
disappointed I am. I really dont know whether it is a political 
advancement for Jou or not—but it seems to me that you 
and Mme de Bismarck are so happy and contented in Frank- 
fort, and that you have so much less of the „pomp and circum- 
stance“ of courts—which 1 know is a bore to both of you— 
to make me doubt whether you will be at first much gratified 
by plunging into the arctic cirche whither you seem to be 
bound. 
But 1 confess that my emotions on the subject are very 
selfsh. I always thought that 1 had you safe in Frankfort— 
and that I was sure to see VFou very often—as long as I 
remained in Europe, which—off and on—is likely to be for 
the greater part of my life—-but now that Fou are going 
to Petersburg, it seems to me as though you were about 
migrating to the planet Jupiter. 
Russia is so much farther off, in every respect, than 
America. Does vour wife like the idea of removing from 
Frankfort. Pray give her my kindest regards and good wishes, 
and say to her how deeply disappointed I am to lose the 
opportunity of seeing you all again—I wished so much to 
introduce my wife and children to you and yours, and we even 
have talked of spending a year or two in Frankfort, as I dont 
think that Rome agrees much with any of us. 
Do write me a word or two, if you can spare a few mo- 
ments’' time, and tell me what your plans are, why you are 
going to Russia and when, how Fvour wife likes it, and all the 
other is and ands—!I have n't written to you before, because 
I knew, that you did n't care much for correspondence, and