tonishment.
This was the power accorded to him by heaven, of bringing all who
approached his presence into harmony; an effect inconceivably
surprizing in our calling, and contrary to the nature of our artists;
yet all, I do not say of the inferior grades only, but even those who
lay claim to be great personages (and of this humor our art produces
immense numbers), became as of one mind, once they began to labor in
the society of Raphael; continuing in such unity and concord that all
harsh feelings and evil dispositions became subdued, and disappeared
at the sight of him, every vile and base thought departing from the
mind before his influence. Such harmony prevailed at no other time
than his own.

JACQUES CASANOVA CHEVALIER DE SEINGALT

Born in Venice in 1725, died probably in 1803; his father an
actor, his mother a shoemaker's daughter; educated for the
priesthood; expelled in disgrace from the seminary; entered
the Venetian military service, and began a career of
intrigue and adventure as chronicled in his memoirs;
wandered to almost every quarter of Europe, living by his
wits as journalist, doctor, mesmerist, and diplomat;
effected an entrance to many high social circles and was
presented to Catharine of Russia, Louis XV, Frederick the
Great, Rousseau, Voltaire, and Madame de Pompadour; arrested
in Venice as a spy in 1755, imprisoned and escaped;
afterward honored by Italian princes and decorated by the
Pope; became librarian to Count Waldstein in Bohemia in his
fifty-seventh year; his "Memoirs" notable as a picture of
manners and morals at their worst, chronicled with the
utmost frankness.

HIS INTERVIEW WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT[38]

At that time I am writing of, Lord Keith was living in Berlin, resting
on his laurels, beloved and cherished by the king, but taking no
active part in politics, as he was over eighty years of age, but
simple and charming as ever. He received me kindly, and exprest a hope
that I should remain some time in Berlin, as he knew, to a certain
extent, the vicissitudes of my past life. I replied that I would
gladly settle there if the king would give me a suitable appointment;
but when I asked him to speak to the king for me, he replied that
that would do more harm than good. "His majesty piques himself on
knowing men better than any one else. He likes to judge them himself;
sometimes he discove