178 MEMOIR OF OERSTED. 



electro-magnets^ magnets variously armed, have been devised by a tlirong of men 

 of talent. This pursuit, still so new, is one of those in which the inventive 

 spirit of our age has most favorably displayed itself; but, whatever the process, 

 it always substantially consists in operating, at a distance and even beyond the 

 seas, with the electro-magnetic currents of Oersted and Ampere. 



[This statement can scarcely be considered as correct, even in view of the 

 rhetorical license of the eulogist. The currents used in telegraphing are, strictly 

 speaking, neither the discoveries of Oersted nor of Ampere, but of Volta and of 

 Faraday. There are three different forms of the telegraph : first, that of pure 

 electi'icitv which transmits messages by a galvanic current, and makes signals 

 by sparks or by marks on chemical paper. Second, that of the needle moved 

 by a galvanic current, first suggested by Ampere. Third, that of an electro- 

 magnet which produces sounds, and also marks on paper at a distance. The first 

 of these depends essentially on the discovery of Volta, and the other two on the 

 primary fact of Oersted, extended, applied, and modified by others. — J. H.] 



In a very interesting account of Oersted, from which I have borrowed many 

 of the details here cited, professor Hauch, of Copenhagen, compares, with no 

 unjustifiable enthusiasm, his master Oersted discovering, after long meditation, 

 the action of the pile on the magnetic needle and thus opening for science hor- 

 izons altogether new, to Christopher Columbus discovering America, after having 

 dreamed all his life of the existence of a great continent beyond the ocean.* 

 He might have adxled that Oersted, more fortunate than Columbus, encountered 

 no Ameiicus Vespucius to dispute with him the glory of his discovery. Ampere, 

 the most modest of men, had need of no glory but his own, if, indeed, ho ever 

 occupied himself with that ; and moreover, in electro-magnetic science, the parts 

 of Oersted and of Ampere have remained perfectly distinct. If the fundamental 

 experiment is the incontestable property of Oersted, the developments immedi- 

 ately added by Ampere were the fruit of a spirit of invention which yields not 

 in merit to the most original experiment, and of an analytical science which 

 could only be met with in a geometer like Ampere, and, it may be added, in 

 those colleagues of ours who bore a part in his calculations, M. Savary, M. 

 Liouville, and our actual president M. Duhamel. 



It pertained to the members of this Academy, the colleagues of Ampere, to be 

 first in proclaiming all the merit of Oersted. The occasion was embraced with 

 the ardor which, in such circumstances, is always native to it. We read accord- 

 ingly, in the statement regarding the prizes awarded, Sth April, 1822, as follows : 



* The first idea of this comparison reverts to Sir John Herschel, as may be seen by the 

 following letter of M. de Humboldt to Oersted, a translation of which has been obligingly 

 communicated to me by M. de la Roquette, former consul of France in Denmark : 



"Assuredly, M. Councillor, it wiil be a pleasure to the King to see you again and to 

 express to you how much his Majesty is personally flattered at receiving among us a man of 

 your celebrity. You are invited for to-morrow noon to the King's table, and in the evening 

 at the new palace to the first representation of Medea in the Court Theater. ^^ * * * * 

 I have just read to-night in Herschel's Study of Natural Philosophy, p. 340, this fine passage 

 concerning yon : " /« Oersted there is something which reminds us of the obstinate adherence 

 of Columbus to Ids notions of the 7iecessary existence of the new world, and the sole history of 

 Oersted's beautiful discovery may serve to teach ms * * * * ." This is a just eulogy 

 expressed in very ingenious terms. With the highest consideration, your obedient, 



"A. DE Humboldt." 



A second letter of M. Humboldt to Oersted, also communicated to me by M. de la 

 Roquette, will further contribute to show with what regard and cordiality Oersted was 

 received at Berlin : 



" May I count, dear doctor, on the pleasure of seeing you again before your departure ? 

 I desire not only to rgad once more your instructive memoir on the repose of the volcanoes 

 of Nicaragua, but also to have some doubts respecting Squier resolved. The King being 

 to arrive to-day, I shall be occupied until Friday. On that day or the following, may I 

 flatter myself with the hope of seeing you at Berlin? ***** With distinguished 

 consideration, &c. A. DE HuMBOLDT." 



