Blochausen Ministry

Félix de Blochausen suggested to William III to propose to the German government to admit a Luxembourgish representative in the Bundesrat, who would be able to vote on customs matters.

Despite the apparently favourable attitude of German chancellor Otto von Bismarck, this course of action failed in light of the resistance of other signatories of the Treaty of London, who regarded it as incompatible with Luxembourg's neutrality.

This eliminated the excesses of criminal theories founded exclusively on reparation and utility, and granted a more important place to attenuating circumstances.

The church on the other hand, retained a right to be involved in education to some extent, as parish priests were automatically a member of their local school commission, and the teacher was under their surveillance.

Under the rule of Blochausen and Eyschen, the company tasked with creating a belt line railway was cleaned up, thanks to the creation of the "Société anonyme luxembourgeoise des chemins de fer et minières Prince-Henri" in 1877.

From 1880, narrow gauge railway lines started to be constructed which made accessible rural areas of the country, and whose names -- Jhangeli, Charly and Benny -- paid testament to the progress which they represented in the eyes of the population.

The companies of Norbert Metz and the Société Guillaume-Luxembourg, close to the Banque internationale, refused to accept the notes of the competing bank.