Thanks to the teachings of Fichte and the still deeper lessons of adversity, the mind of Germany was now ranged on the side of national independence and against an omnivorous imperialism.
Where the mind led the body followed, yet still somewhat haltingly.

In truth, the King and his officials were in a difficult position.

They distrusted the Russians, who seemed chiefly eager to force Frederick William into war with France and to arrange the question of a frontier afterwards.

But the eastern frontier was a question of life and death for Prussia.

If Alexander kept the whole of the great Duchy of Warsaw, the Hohenzollern States would be threatened from the east as grievously as ever they were on the west by the French at Magdeburg.
And the Czar seemed resolved to keep the whole of Poland.