234 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



not reach to practical results, and amounted to nothing in their influ- 

 ence upon the public. The work of Licbig was nothing less than to 

 erect both these sciences into recognized branches of study, to direct 

 the scientific thought of his age to these fields of inquiry, and to 

 arouse the interest of the public in their practical applications ; and 

 this great work it is his lasting honor to have accomplished. That he 

 should have committed errors, was inevitable. The first bold original 

 speculations upon complex subjects cannot fail to be always imperfect. 

 And, besides, that order of temperament which fitted him to be a 

 reformer and a leader, and to stimulate and urge on other men, was 

 favorable to rashness of generalization and a sanguine anticipation of 

 conclusions. And yet Liebig's leading doctrines, to whatever degree 

 requiring modification, were steps in the right direction of investiga- 

 tion ; while their amendment and revision have made the reputations 

 of other men. 



Prof. Liebig's name will always be intimately and honorably asso- 

 ciated with the rise of biological science in the nineteenth century. 

 He stands at the beginning of one of the great epochs of knowledge, 

 to which his genius has assisted to give development and direction, 

 and he illustrates in an eminent degrree that hio-hest trait of modern 

 character devotion to scientific truth to the end of a large and noble 

 utility. 



It remains to be stated that Prof. Liebig entertained large and 

 liberal political views. Although working under the European system 

 with great success, ennobled by it, and appreciating its advantages, 

 he nevertheless condemned its repressions and interferences, and 

 looked beyond the ocean for the realization of his hopes and ideas. 

 He was an enthusiast in regard to America, where he had many more 

 readers than in any other country, and he expected great things from 

 freedom, intelligence, and active enterprise in the United States. He 

 even entertained serious notions of taking up his residence in our 

 country. Like Agassiz, he saw that there were great possibilities 

 for the future of science on this continent, and he indulged the idea, 

 which was much more than a fancy, of establishing a great agricult- 

 ural institution in one of the States. He would have been welcome 

 here with a cordiality beyond his anticipation ; for he was not only 

 universally known and highly respected, but the most numerous class 

 of the community the agriculturists recognized him as benefactor. 



