Page:The Ancestor Number 1.djvu/50

 22 THE ANCESTOR had just been serving in a subordinate position. Charles III. signified his approval of this by giving Mr. Harris an early- interview, in which he alluded in delicate and gracious terms to the young envoy's abilities. Very shortly after this James Harris was transferred as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Berlin, and on his bidding farewell to the Spanish Court, his Catholic Majesty was pleased to give him a handsome snufF-box bearing a portrait of himself. He remained at the Court of Frederic the Great for four years, during which time he saw and learnt much of the designs of that most marvellous and eccentric of sovereigns. Harris was no stranger to the Prussian king, for the young English minister had already had the honour of being pre- sented to him on a former occasion when visiting Berlin in a private capacity. Many are the anecdotes related in the Harris papers of this, by far the greatest of modern rulers, the first Napoleon in- cluded. An extract from the diary of the first Lord Malmes- bury, written at the time when he first visited Berlin in 1767, furnishes us with an example of the superlative genius of this King of Prussia, although be it truthfully averred the story does not redound to his Majesty's credit : ^ — As proof of his meanness, one might cite the smallness of his pay to all about his court and employed by him ; but above all the economy that is attended to in all manner of festivities given at his expense. On these occasions he suffers no one to interfere, but orders everything, down to the quantity of wax candles himself. ... I saw the King myself directing his servants in the lighting up the ball-room, and telling them where and how they should place the candles. While this operation was performing, the Queen, the Royal Family, and com- pany, were waiting, literally in the dark, as his Majesty did not begin this ceremony till supper was finished, and no one dared to presume to give orders to have it done. Lord Malmesbury makes the additional comment that this was not an occasion for public entertainment^ but one to which only people of a certain rank, foreign ministers and strangers, were suflTered to come. The personality of Frederick the Great will always be a subject of the deepest interest to students of history, increased as it is by the unfathomable and inexplicable contradictions which go to form it. Save Voltaire, the Prussian king never ^ Diaries and Correspondence of James Harris, first Earl of Malmesbury (Bentley).