CHAPTER XXVII.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

The Schleswig-Holstein Difficulty--Austria favours a Settlement--Bismarck's Terms rejected--His high-handed Proceedings--Convention of Gastein--Bismarck at Biarritz--The Italian Treaty--Question of Disarmament--Fresh Austrian Proposals--Bismarck advocates Federal Reform--La Marmora's Perplexity--He abides by Prussia--Efforts of the Neutral Powers--Failure of the projected Congress--Rupture of the Gastein Convention--The War begins--The rival Strengths--Distribution of the Prussian Armies--Collapse of the Resistance in North Germany--Occupation of Dresden--The Advance of the Prussian Armies--Battle of Königgratz--Cession of Venetia--Italian Reverses--The South German Campaign--Occupation of Frankfort--The Defence of Vienna--French Mediation--The Preliminaries of Nikolsburg--Treaty of Prague--Conditions awarded to Bavaria and the Southern States--The Secret Treaties--Their Disclosure--Humiliation of the French Emperor--His pretended Indifference 418