Among the Mystics, who, during the 18th century, were active in endeavoring to form a Universal Brotherhood League for the help of suffering humanity, none was more widely known or more justly celebrated than the Count Saint Germain. Like all true reformers he was misunderstood and reviled by the many, and only partially appreciated or understood by the few. Accused of being a spy, for which even his most bitter opponents admit there was not the slightest proof, he lived for many years the friend and counsellor of kings, to finally apparently die at the court of the Landgrave Charles of Hesse.
The literature of his time and the memoirs of his contemporaries are filled with allusions to this wonderful man and his extraordinary gifts. He spoke all languages with equal facility, and related, as if he had been an eye-witness of them, scenes and conversations which had occurred centuries before. He described people most minutely, as if he had known them personally. He understood the secrets of nature as only those do who walk hand in hand with her. To the doubting and materialistic age in which he came he gave many a sign, which they, not understanding, set down to sorcery or charlatanism. They were forced to admit the fact, however, that he understood how to remove stains from diamonds, and to perform other seeming miracles in the eyes of even the most skilled chemists. In the life of the Landgrave Prince Charles of Hesse, who was a deep student of occultism, the following statement is made "The Count of Saint Germain was simply a man of science who reasonably enough might have been burned for a wizard or magician in the dark ages; and was mistaken for a conjurer by the countrymen and contemporaries of Voltaire. He was especially learned in chemistry, botany, and metallurgy and understood to perfection the art of polishing precious stones. There was hardly anything in nature that he did not know how to improve and utilize. He communicated to me almost all knowledge of this kind, but only the elements, making me investigate for myself by experiments the means of success, and rejoiced extremely at my progress." Again he says: "He was thoroughly acquainted with the properties of plants and herbs, and had invented medicines by which he preserved his health and prolonged his life. I have still all his prescriptions, but the doctors vehemently denounced his science after his death."
Madame de Hausset, Baron Gleichen and the Count of Casanova all allege the fact that he never ate at any table, nor invited anyone to eat with him, alleging that his food would not suit them. He so entranced people with his conversation that in their turn they forgot to taste the viands placed before them. His famed Elixir of Life he did not pretend would renew youth, but that it would prolong life. At various periods of his life, separated often by a score or more of years, he always seemed to be about 45 or 50 years old. He is described as being of middle height and powerfully built.
In Lascelles Wraxall, occurs the following: "Differing from other charlatans, he never offered to sell governments the art of making gold, but pointed out to them the means of enriching themselves by the employment of all sorts of economical receipts as well as great financial operations."
He is said to have played an important part in the revolution which placed Catherine II. on the throne of Russia, and Baron Gleichen cites the fact that the Orloffs paid particular attention to him at Leghorn in 1770.
Another historical fact is that, in 1777, Count St. Germain induced General Von Steuben to come over to America and offer his sword to General Washington. He went to Germany in 1762, where, according to the Memoires Authentiques of Cagliostro, he initiated the latter into Freemasonry. After frequenting several of the German courts he finally took up his residence in Schleswig-Holstein, where he and the Landgrave Charles of Hesse pursued together the study of the secret sciences. He died at Schleswig in 1780.
There can be little doubt, however, that the alleged death of the Count St. Germain at the court of the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel did not take place as reported. The grave was afterwards opened and no body found in it.