SOCIAL POSITION. 363 



A few years later the Emperor gave a still more 

 decided expression to this renewal of favour with a 

 kindliness, which could hardly be surpassed. I had 

 already for a number of years been a member of the 

 Council of the Berlin Merchants' Company, and accor- 

 ding to the prevailing practice had been proposed by 

 the president of the Company for nomination as Coun- 

 cillor of Commerce, without my knowing anything 

 about it. The Emperor had already approved of the 

 nomination, and the president of police was kind enough 

 to call upon me and personally to bring me the grati- 

 fying intelligence of this impressive mark of favour. 

 The title of Councillor of Commerce however was not 

 quite to my taste, for I considered and felt myself more 

 a savant and engineer than a merchant. The president 

 of police, who soon perceived my uneasiness, tried to 

 combat my objection and asked, what he should say 

 to the Emperor, who had desired to do me a favour. 

 Whereupon the remark slipped off my tongue, that 

 first lieutenant, honorary doctor of philosophy, and 

 Commercial Councillor did not agree, such a mixture 



O ' 



would produce a stomach-ache! The police -president 

 finally promised to convey my petition to the Emperor 

 that my appointment as Councillor of Commerce should 

 not be published, and we agreed to meet at a particular 

 spot at the court ball to be given the same evening. 

 He there came up to me with a cheerful countenance, 

 and reported that he had communicated to the Emperor 

 my scruples regarding the stomach-ache; that the 

 Emperor had laughed heartily at it, and remarked he 



