potter carry out. It is satisfactory to know that there exist at the present day 133 models from which these articles were fabricated; and the results of the labour, the energy, and the taste brought into play a hundred years ago may easily be studied.

The contract of Gotzkowski appears to have been most advantageous to him, and to have excited considerable discussion: he, however, gave up his establishment on terms that in these days. would hardly appear sufficient for the payment of his many years of labour. It was in September, 1763, that Frederick the Great appeared for the first time in his manufactory. His reception was, of course, worthy of a monarch, and he seems to have examined everything with the attention of a master and of an artist. His eye fell upon every object of interest, and he freely expressed his opinion. In the moulding-room and the turners' department he remained a long time, and examined the materials. Near the ovens he entered into a long conversation with one of the furnace-men, and he also discoursed freely and at length with Grunenger, who has recorded in his chronicle the

sensible remarks made by his Majesty, who ponted out the improvements which he considered might be made. The questions he asked were evidently those of a person who was conversant with his subject, and determined to pursue it. He remained about two hours, and, on retiring, promised his gracious protection to his artists. Commissioner Grunenger, Maritius Jacobi, Nogel, Eichman, Richard, Meyer, Clauce, Bohme, and Kleppel continued at the head of the establishment, and directed the different departments. A sum of 140,000 dollars was devoted to the improvement of the fabric.

Every effort was made to produce porcelain as remarkable for its material as for its beauty. In order to promote its introduction largely into commerce, a certain number of Jews were privileged to purchase articles as soon as they appeared, and to distribute them in foreign countries. This permission has formed the groundwork of Miss Edgeworth's celebrated novel, "The Prussian Vase." In 1769 an order was published permitting a lottery company to purchase annually to the amount of 90,000 dollars. In September, 1763, the king ap

peared at the board of directors, read their report, and ordered the construction of two edifices—one of three stories, 350 feet in length; the other two stories, of 180 feet. He built a new mill for pulverizing the materials, with apparatus for cleansing and preparing the clay employed. He was anxious to have, as soon as possible, new specimens. He ordered that potter's clay and earthy materials should be sent from all parts of his dominions, and enumerated several localities in which he himself had seen earth adapted for porcelain. The king's orders were quickly obeyed. In 1771, in the neighbourhood of Brackwitz, not far from Halle, a superior clay was discovered, from which a porcelain of exquisite beauty and whiteness was obtained, to the great delight of the monarch. Somewhat later discoveries were made at Beerdersee and at Morland Seumwitz, of earthy material of the highest quality, sufficient for consumption during a century; and from thence the royal manufactory at this day derives its most valuable material. The reputation of the fabric was quickly extended far and near. The Duke of Brunswick and the

Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel came to witness the progress; and the Count Woronzoff, with several of the Russian nobility, were also attracted. His highness the Turkish ambassador, Achmet Effendi, a great amateur of porcelain and fully conversant with its manufacture, visited the royal manufactory, much to the satisfaction of Grunenger, who has narrated the circumstances attendant upon the visit.

The untiring zeal and energy of the king awakened a spirit of enthusiasm in every department, which led to the happiest results. Science and art were called in to superintend all the arrangements: mineralogists studied the materials, engineers constructed the ovens, chemists produced the colours, and painters composed the designs. The style and taste of the Berlin porcelain called forth the admiration of Europe; crowned heads were eager to receive presents from the royal owner; the saloons of the aristocratic world could not be considered richly furnished unless some specimen of the Prussian manufacture was exhibited. Nor was this without cause; for the beautifully enamelled

surface displayed subjects after Watteau, Boucher, Savaret, Buffles; the customs of all ages; flowers, birds, insects, exquisitely painted in colours of radiant splendour. The articles were modelled after classic forms, or according to the principles of beauty generally admitted at the period; the ornaments and the decorations were of the richest character; allegorical figures, statues from the antique, sheep, shepherdesses, and the most rococo as well as humorous subjects, were rapidly executed. His Majesty was perfectly delighted when snuffboxes were produced, the covers of which exhibited to his admiring courtiers miniatures of the royal personage himself; and happy was the individual who received from such hands a mark of royal regard. After a night broken by the agonies of gout in his hands and feet, at six in the morning would Frederick receive with delight the director of the royal manufactory, who came to show a new chef-d'œuvre, which he would place on a table by the royal bedside. The death of the monarch did not diminish the importance of the great establishment. Prince Henry and Princess Amelia had