THE NATIOiNAL SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS AT BERLIN. 99 



Soon after Fichte's appointment Jena furnished a second celebrated 

 teacher. In 1800 Ilnfelaud was appointed professor and director of 

 the " Collegium medico-chirurgicum." The academy elected him to 

 membership; the medical affairs were intrusted to him, and in his posi- 

 tion as physician to the King opportunities were not wanting which 

 euabled him to render decisions on scientific questions. 



For the improvement in agricultural knowledge Thaer was called in 

 1804, and he at once prepared for the establishment of his " Agricult- 

 ural Institute." 



Alexander von Humboldt, ujion the return from his expedition around 

 the world, on Sei^tember 3, 1804, declared his intentions to enter the 

 services of the state. It was about this time that Beyme expected to 

 organize the new establishment. The programme of Ciottingen — or 

 rather the spirit of the programme freed from all abuses, — n general scien- 

 tific educational establishment, was his plan for the Berlin University. 



Owing to the threatening conditions, however, the project was not 

 consummated. Soon crushing blows demoralized the state ; on October 

 27, 180G, Napoleon entered the city of Frederick the Great. 



After the treaty of Tilsit, when the King and his council prepared the 

 organization of the great reform, the plan for the new university formed 

 one of the points under consideration and this gave rise to a multitude 

 of opinions, objections, and deliberations. 



During all these deliberations the patriotism and the scientific zeal 

 of the professors who had already received their commissions, had been 

 demonsrated ; they had entered on their course of lectures. The Uni- 

 versity existed, although not by ofidcial recognition. It was formed 

 by the four professors : Schleiermacher, Schmalz, Fichte, and Wolf, 

 each of whom represented a faculty. 



On December 3, 1808,the French evacuated Berlin. Among the changes 

 which took place in the national administration was the appointment of 

 Wilhelm von Humboldt to take charge of the public instruction. 



In April, 1809, Humboldt left for Kouigsberg in order to personally 

 urge before the King a final determination. A building became neces- 

 sary, both in order to enable the professors to appear as public teachers 

 and to secure an appreciation of the scheme by the inhabitants. The 

 palace of Prince Henry had been repeatedly suggested for the purpose. 

 Frederick the Great had constructed it during the years 1754-1761, and 

 by death it had reverted to the crown. Frederick William III gave 

 favorable consideration to Humboldt's wishes and donated the palace 

 " for all time to come." 



Greater dilliculties appear to have presented themselves in obtaining 

 security for the required means. Hufeland in 1807 already had shown 

 the desirability of endowment by real estate ; Humboldt shared his 

 views and endeavored to gain the annual means by obtaining donation 

 in the form of private domain belonging to the crown. In his memorial 

 pn the subject, of July 24, 1809, Humboldt says : " It may appear 



