Reminiscences of Werner and Freiberg. 343 
present moment the condition of science at a former time ; and 
it is more especially in the case of a science, like natural his- 
tory, which is developed with rapid strides, and in afew years 
acquires quite a different form, that we almost lose the power of — 
estimating properly what is no longer received directly, but is 
obtained indirectly by means of the intermediate links of de- 
velopment. I cannot here enter into a scientific disquisition 
on the services of Werner. Probably most of my readers 
will say that I have dwelt too much on him; but I must be 
allowed to make this observation, that, notwithstanding his 
errors, Werner probably did more for the establishment of his 
science than Linneus accomplished for zoology and botany. 
It is undeniable that less progress had been made in minera- 
logy, prior to the time of Werner, than in the sciences treated 
of by Linnzus, previous to him ; and the former found an en- 
tirely rough material to work upon, which he left behind him 
in a state of good arrangement, and in many respects clearly 
defined. Eyena triumph over him was only possible by means 
of the very arms which he himself had placed in the hands of 
his opponents. 
Werner had received me with great friendship, and I con- 
tinued to advance in his good graces, although I had some- 
times deviated from his views in the work already mentioned. 
He knew well how little a well secured structure like that he 
had reared could be affected or shaken by feeble and abstract 
sketches of that kind.—Charpentier was Werner’s rival. Al- 
though the latter occupied himself also with the practical parts 
of mining, yet mineralogy was always his chief subject. Char-- 
pentier, on the other hand, was, from his situation as Berg- 
haupimann, and also from his previous occupations and incli- 
nations, more particularly a practical miner. His services in 
this respect are universally known. He had established the 
great and remarkable amalgamation work at Halsbriicke, and 
had introduced great improvements in smelting as well as in 
the mining operations. Nevertheless he was very fond of geog- 
nostical investigations, and his observations on the occurrence 
of basalt in the great Schneegruben of the Riesengebirge had 
directed the special notice of geognosts to that display. These, 
