926 Great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin. 



to the last meeting, which took place at Berlin in the middle 

 of September of the last year. 



The capital selected for its temporary residence is scarcely 

 surpassed by any in Europe in the number and celebrity of its 

 Savans. 



The taste for knowledge possessed by the reigning family has 

 madfe knowledge itself fashionable ; and the severe sufferings 

 of the Prussians previous to the war, by which themselves and 

 Europe were freed, have impressed on them so strongly the 

 lesson that " knowledge is power," that its effects are visible 

 in every department of the government ; and there is no coun- 

 try in Europe in which talents and genius so surely open for 

 their possessors the road to wealth and distinction. 



Another circumstance also contributed its portion to increase 

 the numbers of the meeting of the past year. The office of 

 president, which is annually changed, was assigned to M. 

 Alexander de Humboldt. The universality of his acquirements, 

 which have left no branch within the wide range of science in- 

 different or unexplored, has connected him by friendship with 

 almosc all the most celebrated philosophers of the age ; whilst 

 •the polished amenity of his manners, and that intense desire of 

 acquiring and of spreading knowledge, which so peculiarly 

 characterizes his mind, renders him accessible to all strangers, 

 and insures for them the assistance of his counsel in their 

 scietitific pursuits, and the advantage of being made known to 

 all those who are interested or occupied in similar inquiries. 



Professor Lichtenstein, (Director of the Museum of Zoolo- 

 gy,) as Secretary of the Academy, was indefatigable in his at- 

 tentions, and most ably seconded the wishes of its distinguish- 

 ed President. 



These two gentlemen, assisted by several of the residents at 

 Berlin, undertook the numerous preliminary arrangements ne- 

 cessary for the accommodation of the meeting. 



On the 18th of September 1828, there were assembled at 

 Berlin 377 members of the Academy, whose names and resi- 

 dences (in Berlin) were printed in a small pamphlet, and to 

 each name was attached a number, to indicate his seat in the 

 great concert room, in whidi .the morning meetings took place. 

 Each member was also provided with an engraved card of the 



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