CERAMIC WARE. 235 



gustus II., Elector of Saxony, about the year 1708, came to 

 the conclusion that, if his pecuniary resources were more con- 

 siderable, it would be, all things regarded, desirable. Alas, 

 what iniquities may not come about, if once the human con- 

 science accepts the pernicious doctrine that the end may jus- 

 tify the means ! Thus, about the ninth century, the Russians 

 having determined to relinquish idolatry and become Chris- 

 tians, sent men-at-arms to Constantinople and kidnapped a 

 bishop. Thus, too, Augustus IL, having resolved to make 

 himself rich in a hurry, kidnapped poor Bottger, the chemist. 

 This latter wise man, as it seems, had acquired much fame as 

 an alchemist. To him the secrets of Hermes, it was said, had 

 been revealed, or were about to be revealed. He had trans- 

 muted, or was going to transmute, a considerable amount of 

 base materials into gold. Now Bottger was the Elector's liege 

 subject, who, therefore, thought it would be sound policy, 

 if not strict justice, to lay forcible hands upon the man of 

 Hermes, and lock him up. The proceeding commends itself 

 very ill to us Britons, who entertain such exaggerated notions 

 about liberty of the subject and Habeas-corpus. Upon the 

 whole, however, Bottger' s captivity was gentlemanlike and 

 courteous. The best of eating and drinking were at his com- 

 mand. A well-appointed laboratory was placed at his dis- 

 posal. All his expenses being defrayed, even to the farthing, 

 his captivity was not so objectionable after all. Bottger does 

 not seem to have pined under duresse. He did not grow 

 slovenly and mope in unkempt locks. Locks ! he wore a 

 wig, after the fashion of the time. On stated days a Figaro 

 came to dress the wig, and make it otherwise respectable. 

 Now it happened, one day, that the wig, frizzed, powdered, 

 and placed in position as artillerists say of their guns it 

 happened one day, that the extraordinary weight of the wig 

 prompted Bottger to demand of Figaro what it had been 

 powdered with. Then followed a revelation to which the dis- 

 covery of true porcelain in Saxony is due. 



