husband the Prince Elector, was then a fugitive to Holland. Lord
Harrington, who had once acted as governor to the princess, and
won her affection, was James Harrington's uncle, and she now
cordially welcomed the young student of life for his uncle's sake,
and for his own pleasantness of outward wit and inward gravity of
thought. Harrington was taken with him by the exiled and
plundered Prince Elector, when he paid a visit to the Court of
Denmark, and he was intrusted afterward with the chief care of the
prince's affairs in England.

From Holland, James Harrington passed through Flanders into
France, and thence to Italy. When he came hack to England, some
courtiers who were with him in Rome told Charles I that
Harrington had been too squeamish at the Pope's consecration of
wax lights, in refusing to obtain a light, as others did, by kissing
his Holiness's toe. The King told Harrington that he might have
complied with a custom which only signified respect to a temporal
prince. But his Majesty was satisfied with the reply, that having
had the honor to kiss his Majesty's hand, he thought it beneath him
to kiss any other prince's foot.

Of all places in Italy, Venice pleased Harrington best. He was
deeply interested ill the Venetian form of government, and his
observations bore fruit in many suggestions for the administration
of the Commonwealth of Oceana.

After his return to England, being of age, James Harrington cared
actively for the interests of his younger brothers and sisters. It was
he who made his brother William a merchant. William Harrington
throve, and for his ingenuity in matters of construction he was