64 Hofmann and Modern Chemistry. | Jan., 
The novelty of the views put forward by Liebig; the popular 
style in which he wrote on what had hitherto been regarded as a 
recondite subject ; the enthusiasm which he threw into his lectures ; 
the novelty and the completeness of his illustrations ; the boldness, 
‘approaching to dogmatism, with which he propounded his hypo- 
theses, all tended to make Organic Chemistry the favourite pursuit 
of the younger chemists. 
The result has been, “that, during the last quarter of a cen- 
tury, the science of Chemistry has undergone a profound trans- 
formation ; attended, during its accomplishment, by struggles so 
convulsive as to represent what, in political parlance, would be 
appropriately termed a revolution.” These are the words of Hof- 
mann, the favourite pupil of Liebig, who was sent forth from Giessen 
to teach in England the doctrines of the Master. 
So thoroughly has Dr. Hofmann fulfilled his mission in this 
country, so entirely has he identified himself with ‘Modern Che- 
mistry ’—which he has chosen indeed as the title of a valuable little 
work from his pen—that it has been thought important to sketch 
the progress of this chemist, and examine, as far as our space will 
admit of our doing so, the value of his discoveries and their bear- 
ings upon the present state of chemical science, and its applications 
to manufactures. , 
Augustus William Hofmann, whose name must be for ever con- 
nected with the history of chemistry durmg the last twenty years, 
is the son of John Phillipp Hofmann, a German architect of repute. 
He was born at Giessen, Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, on the 
8th of April, 1818. His early education was received in the Gym- 
nasium of his native town. We-learn that the father, who doubt- 
less discovered the natural powers of his son, lost no opportunity of 
expanding the instruction given in that school. The study of 
classical languages claimed predominant attention in the Gymna- 
sium, and feeling that the practical character of the age required 
other kinds of learning, the architect took his son on several length- 
ened architectural expeditions through France and Italy. The 
father and son were inseparable companions, and the former thought 
no sacrifices too great to ensure any benefit to his boy. The edu- 
cation at school and that of travel, produced in young Hofmann an 
inclination to the study of modern languages, and created a certain 
facility in using them, which did not remain without influence on 
his subsequent career. Liebig, who beyond most men has left his 
mark upon the age, began to draw the attention of Europe to the 
University of Giessen about the time—1836—when Hofmann 
entered it as a student. His first year was passed in studies of a 
somewhat desultory character. Huis father desired that he should 
become an architect, while his own predilections were towards phi- 
lology- The elder Hofmann, evidently a practical man, earnestly 
