The  consequences  of  the  annexation  were  deplorable  for  Sles-
wig.  Though  the  inhabitants  were  greatly  attached  to  Denmark,
they  saw  themselves  violently  severed  from  it,  and  united  with
Germany,  which  they  detested.  The  proceedings  of  the  con-
querors were  also  not  calculated  to  gain  the  affection  of  the  con-
quered people  ;  the  exactions  and  the  enormous  taxes  so  violently
imposed  were  the  prelude  to  vexations  of  all  kinds.  The  simple
and  unsophisticated  feelings  of  this  courageous  people  were  con-
stantly hurt  by  the  gross  instincts  and  rough  manners  of  their
new  masters ;  yet,  notwithstanding  the  misery  endured  by  the
whole  country,  not  a  single  inhabitant  would  take  advantage  of
the  aid  sent  from  Berlin.  Societies  were  formed  to  facilitate
emigration  e7i  masse  among  the  peasants  who  wislied  to  quit  the
country,  and  meetings  were  held  in  the  towns  imploring  the
assistance  of  France.  Unfortunately,  France  remained  unmoved,
keeping  in  its  scabbard  that  sword  which  had  so  often  protected
the  feeble  and  the  oppressed,  and  which  in  our  own  times  had


THE    WAR    OF    THE    DUCHIES.  317


defended  Turkey  and  created  Italy.  Then  silence  fell  on  this
great  catastrophe,  and  Prussia  had,  unsuspected  by  the  whole  of
Europe,  taken  the  first  step  in  her  career  of  fortune.  Might  had
overwhelmed  right.
We  will  now  finish  this  sketch  with  some  details  of  the  man-
ner in  which  Prussia  behaved  during  the  war.
