1866. | Hofmann and Modern Chemistry. 67 
advances without its aid. Young Englishmen had been amongst 
Liebig’s students; they had drunk from the earnest teacher the 
draughts of enthusiasm, and they returned home to spread the 
chemical fever, under the excitement of which they lived. In 1841 
we find the British Association desirmg from Liebig a report on 
Organic Chemistry. This was furnished to them in 1842 at the 
Manchester meeting by Dr. Lyon Playfair. That all may judge of 
the estimation in which the German chemist was then held we quote 
the concluding paragraph of the abstract published :— 
“Jn the opinion of all, Liebig may be considered a benefactor 
to his species, for the interesting discoveries in agriculture, pub- 
lished by him in the first part of this report. And having in that 
pomted out means by which the food of the human race may be 
increased, in the work now before us he follows up the chain in its 
continuation, and shows how that food may best be adapted to the 
nutrition of man. Surely there are no two subjects more fitted 
than these for the contemplation of the philosopher ; and by the 
consummate sagacity with which Liebig has applied to their elu- 
eidation the powers of his mind, we are compelled to admit that 
there is no living philosopher to whom the chemical section could 
have more appropriately entrusted their investigation.”* 
Prince Albert, who had received all the advantages of a German 
education, and who, consequently, had studied many branches of 
science, was now making the influences of his mind felt in this 
country. ‘The Prince had learned to regard a knowledge of science 
as an essential element in a liberal education, and seeing the want 
of that kind of knowledge amongst the people of the country of his 
adoption, he lost no opportunity of enforcing its importance. The 
following words express, at the same time, the true condition of the 
period, and the high standard to which Prince Albert desired to lift 
the public mind :— 
“ Nobody, however, who has paid any attention to the peculiar 
features of our present era, will doubt for a moment that we are 
living at a period of most wonderful transition, which tends rapidly 
to accomplsh the great end to which indeed all history pomts; 
the reaiization of the unity of mankind! Not a unity which 
breaks down the limits, and levels the peculiar characteristics of the 
different nations of the earth, but rather a unity, the result and 
product of those very national varieties and antagonistic qualities. 
___“Man is approaching a more complete fulfilment of that great 
and sacred mission which he has to perform in this world. His 
* <The Report of the British Association for the advancement of Science for 
1842,’ p. 42. The full Report was embodied in two works by Liebig—‘ Chemis- 
try: its Application to Agriculture and Physiology ;’ and ‘ Animal Chemistry ; 
or, Chemistry in its Applications to Physiology and Pathology.’ 
F2 
