At last it was agreed that this should be paid over to him.

The King, however, used the money for organising a Legion to be used when the time came against Prussia; it was therefore necessary to cease paying him funds which could be used for this purpose.

This is the origin of the notorious _Welfenfond_.

The money was to be appropriated for secret service and especially for purposes of the Press.

The party of the Guelphs, of course, maintained a bitter feud against the Government in their papers.
Bismarck, who had had ample experience of this kind of warfare, met them on their own ground.
He defended this proposal by drawing attention to one of the weaknesses of Germany.