350 Reminiscences of Werner and Freiberg. 
would and must retain their value. He seemed to see more 
distinctly than I myself did at that time, that his last expla- 
natory reasons in opposition to my views might not be able to 
stand. He appeared to fear that, proceeding from this dan- 
gerous centre, his whole geognostical doctrine must undergo 
a change, by which its peculiar characters would be destroyed. 
Werner exercised a most decided influence over his scholars, 
and, all the more distinguished among them at least, seemed 
to expect much from me, and yet to regard me at the same 
time as a foreign, disturbing, alarming element. 
I lived on friendly, nay, on confidential, terms with the 
more distinguished strangers who then resided at Freiberg on 
Werner’s account, and more especially with Herder and Von 
Herda, and with the Englishmen, Mitchel and Jameson. The 
Pole Mielesky, now Berg-Hauptmann in Westphalia, and Count 
Beust, now Odver- Berg-Hauptmann, although then very young, 
especially the latter, were much with me. I was requested 
by them to give lectures on philosophy, and I was glad to 
have an opportunity of speaking of what seemed to me so im- 
portant. Schelling’s transcendental idealismus had just ap- 
peared ; this work, which for its clearness, and for the ingenious 
and gradual development of his method, must ever be regarded 
as an unrivalled master-piece, constantly occupied me. I en- 
deayoured to make clear to myself, as well as to my hearers, 
the relation of the ideal part of philosophy to the real, the ap- 
parent parallelism of the two, and their higher unity. But 
though I succeeded in attaining clearer views myself, I was 
searcely able to communicate this perception to my scholars. 
Mielesky had a tutor called Haberle, who accompanied him to 
all the lectures, and he seemed the most interested in my dis- 
quisitions. He afterwards attracted notice as a meteorologist, 
by connecting himself with Howard’s doctrine on clouds ; and 
when at Erfurt, he entered into communication with Gothe. 
But even to him the subjects of my instructions remained en- 
tirely unknown, and I did not win any proselytes to my views. 
Philosophy was too far removed from the other occupations of 
my companions ; and in all Germany, it would have been im- 
possible to find a more unfavourable place, than Freiberg then 
was, for gaining supporters. The Englishmen, being strangers, 
