244 ^- R I. Johnston Having thus briefly called attention to a state of affairs that placed Mirabeau in a position in many ways advantageous and ex- ceptional, we must return to an account of his journey. Immediately on his arrival at Berlin, he characteristically wrote to the old King asking for an audience. Frederick, with his usual expedition, immediately answered the French traveller, granting his request. A first interview was followed by several others, and es- tablished Mirabeau as a person of importance at Berlin. In the meanwhile he saw much of Mauvillon and moved in literary and diplomatic circles. He appears to have particularly cultivated the acquaintance of Von Dohm of the Prussian Foreign Ministry, of Prince Henry, the King's brother, and of Ewart, the very clever first secretary of the British legation, who was to prove in the near future at least as clever a diplomat as Mirabeau himself Esterno, the French ambassador, a man of little judgment and no weight, was evidently not delighted at the appearance of this irregular rep- resentative of the French ministry, and in his dispatches to Ver- gennes showed considerable animus against the new-comer. As usual, the indefatigable French pamphleteer was not long idle ; absorbing the new facts about him with the utmost facility, he gave them out again adorned with the brilliancy of form which he knew how to impart. At this period he came within the influence of the great German publisher Nicolai, a prominent Illumine and mem- ber of the German Union, and did much literary work for him, in- cluding, it is probable, the writing of some violent attacks on the Prussian political system and administration. His principal ac- knowledged production was a defence of the famous Jewish philos- opher, Moses Mendelssohn, a friend of Nicolai's. But political affairs were the ostensible object of Mirabeau's jour- ney.and he accordinglyprepared tor M. de Calonne a Memorandton on the European situation. The statements contained in this document we need not follow, but, to place the reader at the right point of view for judging of what is to ensue, the position of affairs in Europe, as they might appear in Berlin, must now be briefly summed up. By far the most important and interesting figure on the stage of politics was that of the aged King of Prussia. The terrible Seven Years' War had left the great Frederick in possession of desolated Silesia, and had established his reputation as the greatest general since Julius Caesar. The period of war over, he had ruled his subjects stringently, but with economy, had drilled his splendid army to his heart's content, and had cultivated the arts of peace. The greatest personal prestige in Europe was his, the most perfectly organized army and the largest reserve of gold. As against this, Prussia was
