98 THE NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AT BERLIN. 



mediate action with regard to the establishment of a new university 

 which conld then be commenced in conformity with the experiences 

 gained by the long-continued inquiries into an improved organization. 



Although it can not be established by documentary evidence, it is suf- 

 ficiently well known that long before the unfortunate events of 1806 

 the cabinet of Frederick William III had already considered the ad- 

 visability of founding a university at Berlin. Privy Councilor Beyme 

 therefore was Avell informed on the subject when in 1807 he was re- 

 quested to formulate plans for the establishment and organization of 

 a university at the capital of the Kingdom. It may even be positively 

 asserted that it was Beyme himself with whom the project originated. 



He was deeply interested in universities; he was an adherent and 

 friend of Fichte; he had induced the King to grant hiui asylum at Ber- 

 lin ; he was instrumental in having him appointed at Erlangen, and was 

 responsible for the appointments of Schleiermacher and Steffens to Halle 



At a large number of scientific institutions, established at an earlier 

 (lay — the Academy, the Military Academy for OflQcers, the Artillery 

 and Engineers' School, the Military Cadet Establishment, the Mining 

 School, etc. — scientifically educated teachers were employed. The 

 science of medicine was the best provided for. The " Collegium medico- 

 chirurgicum" represented a medical faculty for the education of young 

 army physicians. In 180G the staff of that establishment was formed 

 by twenty professors (eighteen regular and two assistant). 



Since Frederick's time lectures were held on other scientific subjects 

 for purposes of practical instructions ; thus, on law and legal proceed- 

 ings in the department of justice, and in forestry and technology by the 

 general directory. TheAcademy of Arts instituted courses of lectures 

 for the development of the artistic taste. There were high schools con- 

 ducted by teachers of repute, some of them members of the Academy. 

 Since however an intermediate step was wanting between the two, 

 greater demands were made on both teachers and pupils which elevated 

 them almost to the dignity of an university. There were further, the 

 library, the botanical garden, the observatory, the natural history col- 

 lection of the academy, the collections of the mining and smelting de- 

 X)artment, the anatomical theater, the collection of physical, astronom- 

 ical, and chirurgical apparatus, the royal and the academic coin collec- 

 tions and the picture gallery in the royal castle. 



Since the beginningof the reign of Frederick William III additions had 

 been made to the number of the existing older establishments. In 1798 

 the Eschke Institute for deaf-mutes was enlarged from means furnished 

 by the royal treasury ; in 1799 the Academy for Architects was founded 

 and the military establishment enlarged; in 1803 attempts were made for 

 the imin^ovement of military education, and lectures were instituted for 

 artisans. In 1804 the academy for young officers was founded, in 1805 

 the statistical bureau, and in 180G the Institute for the Blind and the 

 Agricultural Institute. All branches of knowledge were cared for. 



