294 Baron Humboldt's View of the scientific Researches 



uncivilized, and where there has already risen a temple of Ura- 

 nia, that we must look for regular observations, to measure, and 

 to watch, as it were, whatever is variable in the economy of na- 

 ture.* The illustrious author of the Mecanique Celeste has of-, 

 ten expressed verbally the same thought in the bosom of the 

 Institute, where I had the happiness of sitting with him during 

 eighteen years. 



The western nations have carried into different parts of the 

 world these forms of civilization, — this developement of human 

 knowledge, whose origin remounts to the epoch of the intellec- 

 tual greatness of the Greeks, and to the gentle influence of 

 Christianity. Divided by language and manners, by political 

 and religious institutions, enlightened nations form in our day 

 (and it is one of the happiest results of modem civilization) but 

 a single family, when they are occupied with the great inte- 

 rests of science, of letters, and of the arts, — of whatever, hav- 

 ing its origin within, raises man above the vulgar wants of so- 

 ciety. 



In this noble community of interest and action, most of the 

 important problems relating to terrestrial physics which I have 

 above noticed, may doubtless become the object of simultaneous 

 researches ; but the immense extent of the Russian empire in 

 Europe, Asia, and America, presents peculiar and local advan- 

 tages well worthy of one day occupying the attention of this 

 illustrious society. The impulse given from such a height 

 would produce a powerful activity among the philosophers and 

 observers with whom your country is honoured. I venture to 

 point out at present, and to recommend to your special care, 

 three objects which are not (as was formerly said in a miscon- 

 ception of the connection of human knowledge,) purely specula- 

 tive, but which closely affect the most material wants of life. 



The art of navigation, the study of which, encouraged by the 

 highest suffrage, has assumed (under the direction of a great 

 navigator,) such a fortunate developement in this country, — the 

 art of navigation has required for centuries a precise knowledge 



• This Observatory was the work of our eminent countryman Sir Tho- 

 mas Brisbane, whose fate it seems to be to have his labours every where 

 praised, and even the observations which he established, published, with- 

 out the mention of his name ! — Ed. 



