THE PRUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE.
417
even in the decade from 1681 to 1691 had a low idea of the culture of Prussia, he was not long in discovering that it was only under the leadership of the Prussian elector that the German protestant states
could be united in an academy. Hence his efforts to interest Sophie Charlotte in his enterprise. Through Prussia, he wrote her, he 'saw the gateway to Russia, and through Russia the gateway to China.'
