232 Great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin. 



this royal c}ty with new treasures of nature and art ; and what 

 is of still greater value than the treasures themselves, — what 

 inspires every Prussian with youthful strength, and with an 

 enthusiastic love for the ancient reigning family, — that he gra- 

 ciously attaches to himself every species of talent, and extends 

 with confidence his royal protection to the free cultivation of 

 the understanding. 



This was followed by a paper on magnetism, by Professor 

 Oersted ; and several other memoirs were then read. 



The arrival of so many persons of similar pursuit, for 464 

 members were present, rendered it convenient to have some 

 ordinary at which those who chose might dine, and introduce 

 their friends or families. This had been foreseen, and his 

 Majesty had condescended to allow the immense building used 

 for the exercise of his troops to be employed for this purpose. 

 One-third of it was floored on the occasion, and tables were 

 arranged at which, on one occasion, 850 persons sat down to 

 dinner. On the evening of the first day, M. de Humboldt 

 gave a large soiree in the concert rooms attached to the theatre. 

 About 1200 persons assembled on this occasion, and his Ma- 

 jesty the King of Prussia honoured with his presence the fete 

 of his illustrious chamberlain. The nobility of the country, 

 foreign princes, and foreign ambassadors, were present. It 

 was gratifying to observe the princes of the blood mingling 

 with the cultivators of science, and to see the heir-apparent 

 to the throne, during the course of the evening, engaged in 

 conversation with those most celebrated for their talents, of 

 his own, or of other countries. 



Nor were the minor arrangements of the evening beneath 

 the consideration of the president. The words of the music 

 selected for the concert were printed and distributed to the vi- 

 sitors. The names of the most illustrious philosophers which 

 Germany had produced, were inscribed in letters of gold at 

 the end of the great concert room. 



In the first rank amongst these stood a name which Eng- 

 land, too, enrolls amongst the brightest in her scientific annals, 

 and proud, as well she may be, of having fostered and brought 

 to maturity the genius of the first Herschel, she has reaped 



