Jordan, Charles Stephen

, a person distinguished more by his connections than by his works, was born at Berlin in 1702, and discovered early a taste for letters. He was brought up to the church, but becoming acquainted with Frederic, then prince, and afterwards king of Prussia, a friendship commenced between them of no common sincerity; and when Frederic came to the throne, he prevailed on Jordan to abandon the church and come to court. Here he became the confidential friend of Frederic, and had the courage to give him on all occasions the best advice, and to oppose to his face such measures as he thought hurtful. Notwithstanding this freedom he was advanced to several posts of profit and honour, and became at length vice-president of the academy of sciences at Berlin where he died in 1745. The king of Prussia erected a mausoleum over him, and also honoured him with the following eloge “Jordan,” says he, “was born with parts, lively, penetrating, yet capable of application his memory vast and retentive his judgment sure, his imagination brilliant always governed by reason, yet without stiffness in his morals; open in conversation, full of politeness and benevolence; cherishing truth, and disguising it; humane, generous, ready to serve; a good citizen; faithful to his friends, his master, and his country.” His merits as an author do not give us so high an idea of him as the above eloge, or as the more interesting account given by Thibault. His only writings were, “L‘Histoire d’un voyage literaire,” in France, England, and Holland. “Un Recueil de Littrature, de Philosophic, & de Histoire.” A Life of M. de la Croze, in French, &c. ¹