338 Reminiscences of Werner and Freiberg. 
centuries—excited our curiosity ; and we hastened to make the 
acquaintance of the two most distinguished men of the town, 
viz.of Berghauptmann (captain-general of mines) Von Charpen- 
tier, and of Bergrath (councillor of mines) Werner. I was not 
entirely unknown to them, for my little work on mineralogy 
and mineralogical studies had attracted some notice at Frei- 
berg. 
Freiberg had at that time reached the zenith of its celebrity. 
Throughout the whole of Europe Werner was unhesitatingly 
recognised as the first mineralogist of the day, nay, as the 
founder and author of the science. No one could compete with 
him as an oryctognost, and even Linnzeus never possessed 
more universal authority in botany than did Werner in orye- 
tognosy. In geognosy the Neptunists had obtained a decided 
victory over the Vulcanists, and Hutton’s theory was scarcely 
mentioned. Mineralogists streamed to Freiberg from all 
parts of Europe and America. Humboldt, L. V. Buch, Esmark 
the Norwegian, Elhyar the Spanish Mexican, Andrada the 
Brazilian Portuguese, had been there during the preceding 
six years. In my time, I found still there Mitchel, an Irish- 
man, who had already obtained in England considerable re- 
putation in his department ; and Jameson, a Scotchman, whose 
services to geognosy had been universally acknowledged since 
his travels in Scotland. Among those who subsequently be- 
came distinguished as celebrated mineralogists, there were 
‘D’Aubuisson the Frenchman, Mohs, and Herder. Werner 
was then in the prime of life, being nine and forty years of age. 
His appearance was very distinguished, and struck me ex- 
ceedingly at my first interview. He was middle-sized, and 
broad-shouldered ; his round and friendly countenance did 
not at first sight promise much, but, when he began to speak, 
he at once commanded the most marked attention of every 
one. His eye was full of fire and animation ; his voice, from 
its high tone, was somewhat sharp, but every word was well- 
weighed ; a cautious clearness, and the most marked decision 
in the views he expressed, were apparent in all that he said. 
With all this, however, there was united a goodness which 
‘irresistibly won every heart. 
Werner suffered uninterruptedly from a stomach complaint, 
