their  wire-pullers ;  still  anything  energetic  and  effectual  couldi
not  be  carried  out  as  long  as  Herr  von  Miihler  remained  at
the  head  of  the  Ministry  of  Religion.  He  was,  indeed,  noto-
riously the  drag  upon  all  progress  in  ecclesiastical  as  well  as^
educational  matters,  and  if  he  even  consented  to  the  innova-
tions urged  upon  him  by  Prince  Bismarck,  it  only  happened  as
it  were  by  way  of  compulsion.  Besides,  what  did  individual
crumbs  signify  as  long  as  the  whole  system  hitherto  obtain-
ing was  not  broken  through  ?  Herr  von  Miihler  at  length
perceived  that  he  was  no  longer  suitable  for  the  new  era  of
the  German  Empire,  and  as  he  became  aware  that  all  the^
liberal  sections  of  the  House  of  Parliament  were  determined  to-
vote  in  plain  terms  a  want  of  confidence  in  him,  he  tendered  his-
resignation  to  his  King  at  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  Januarys
1872.  This  request  was  at  once  accepted,  without  further  ado^
and  it  was  felt  through  all  Prussia — indeed,  over  the  whole
of  Germany — that  freedom  from  oppression  had  been  effected^
One  had  only  to  look  at  the  universities  to  see  what  kind  of  men
had  been  appointed  professors  by  Herr  von  Miihler.  Preference-
had  evidently  not  been  given  by  him  to  knowledge  and  scientific-
reputation,  but,  much  more,  to  position  in  the  Church  andi
orthodox  faith.  How  could  there,  then,  be  any  wonder  that
the  Prussian  universities  sank  deeper  and  deeper?  In  a  pre-
cisely similar  way  had  Herr  von  Miihler  proceeded  respecting
the   different  gymnasiums  and  lyceums,  only  stedfast  believers.
