34 MEMOIR OP 



ology. They exhibit to the naturali t a rich mine 

 for observation and critical discussion. The greater 

 number of these well arranged collections have ex- 

 isted, like the University of Berlin, scarcely twenty 

 years. The oldest of them, to which the Botanical 

 Garden (one of the richest in Europe) belongs, 

 have during this period not only been increased, but 

 entirely remodelled. The amusement and instruc- 

 tion derived from such institutions call to our minds, 

 with deep feelings of gratitude, that they are the 

 work of that great monarch, who modestly and in 

 simple grandeur, adorns every year this royal city 

 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 reign- 

 ing family, — that he graciously attaches to himself 

 every species of talent, and extends with confidence 

 his royal protection to the free cultivation of the 

 understanding." 



In the summer of 1829 this enterprising man 

 performed, at the age of sixty, an important under- 

 taking which he had long contemplated. This was 

 a journey to the Uralian mountains, the frontiers 

 of China, and the Caspian Sea. His principal 

 companions on the occasion were MM. G. Ehren- 

 berg and G. Rose. The expedition having been 

 undertaken with the sanction, and at the expense, 

 of the Emperor of Russia, Humboldt, on his return, 

 pronounced an able discourse at an extraordinary 

 sitting of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at 



