i Prof. K. F. H. Marx's Memoir of the Life and 



conduct, was almost always a continued commentary on that 

 definition. In one of his manuscript notes he says, " In my 

 lectures, as well as in my writings, I have always endeavoured 

 to follovv Quinctilian's model : Admiscere tentavimus aliquid 

 nitoris, non jactandi ingenii gratia : sed ut hoc ipso alliceremus 

 magis juventutem ad cognitionem eorum, quae necessaria 

 studiis arbitramur, si ducti jucunditate aliqua lectionis, liben- 

 tius discerent ea, quorum ne jejuna atque arida traditio aver- 

 teret animos, et aures prsesertim tam delicatas raderet, vere- 

 bamur." 



After what has been already said of Blumenbach's exter- 

 nal relations, it is almost superfluous to give any details as to 

 his varied and honourable connection with the scientific world. 

 He was a member of no less than seventy-eight lettrned societies, 

 and, indeed, there was hardly any scientific association of note 

 in the civilized world which did not testify its respect by sending 

 him a diploma. His correspondence was of the most extensive 

 description, and many of the letters exchanged between him 

 and various individuals have been already published,* while 

 many more will probably still be printed. Of all his corres- 

 pondents, Blumenbach placed greatest value on Haller, Peter 

 Camper, and Bonnet ; and his intercourse vvith them was re- 

 garded by him as among the happiest events of his life-t 



As secretary of our society (the Gottingen Royal Academy 

 of Sciences), to which office he was elected in 1812 for the 

 physical and mathematical class, and in 1814 for the whole 

 body, he had the task of communicating with similar institu- 

 tions and with scientific men of our own and foreign countries, 



* For example with Zacli, with whom he corresponded more especially 

 on distant travellers. See Zach's Allgem. Geogr, Ephemcriden. vol. ii. p. C6, 

 158 ; vol. iii. p. 101. AVith Carl Erenbert von Moll, on natural historical 

 subjects, in the laitei^s Mittheilungen aus seinem Briefivedisel. 1829. Part 1. 

 p. 56-03. With Johann Heinrich Merck, in his letters published by K. Wag- 

 ner. Darmstadt, 1835, No. 197, 218, 250, chiefly on fossil bones. 



t In his Medic. Bibliothek, vol. iii. p. 734. In Blumenbach's note-book, 

 he says : " 1775, Nov. 1. my first acquaintance with De Luc ; 1777, Nov. 21. 

 with G. Forster ; 1778, in summer, with Camper; in the same year, com- 

 mencement of cozTcspondcnce with Baron Asch ; 1781, with Reinhard For- 

 ster in Halle ; at Bern, 1782, acquaintance and subsequent correspondence 

 ■ with Bonnet; 1786, comraencement of correspondence with Banks." 



