006 iirNsp:N m?:m()Kial lecture. 



honor, as being not merel}' one of the most distinguished of the great 

 chemists of the century, but one of the truest and noblest of men. In 

 introducing the subject to the readers of that journal 1 used the fol- 

 lowing words, which I make no apology for quoting, as I can not lind 

 more appropriate expressions wherewith to commence the more 

 detailed account of the life and labors of Bunsen in the memorial lec- 

 ture, with the prepai"ation of which the council of the chemical societj^ 

 has honored me. 



"The yaluc of a life deyoted to original scientitic work is measured 

 by the new paths and new tields which such work opens out. In this 

 respect the lal)oi's of Robert ^^'ilhehn Bunsen stand second to those of 

 no chemist of his time. Outwardly, the (>xisten<'e of such a man, 

 attached, as Bunsen had been from the tirst, exclusiyely to his science, 

 seems to glide siU'ntly on without causes for excitement or stirring 

 incident. His inward life howeyer is, on the contrary, full of interests 

 and of incidents of eyen a striking and exciting kind. The discovery 

 of a fact which overthrows or remodels our ideas on a whole branch of 

 science: the experimental proof of a general law hitherto unrecog- 

 n'l'/A'd; the enn^loyment of a new and happy combination of known 

 facts to ert'eet an invention of general a|)plical>ility and utility; these 

 ai'e the ])eaceful xictories of the man of science which may well be 

 thought to outweigh the high-sounding achievements of the more 

 pul)lic professions." 



Owing to the fact, not conunon in the annals of scientitic inter- 

 course, that I have enjoyed the privilege for nearly half a centuiv 

 of counting Bunsen among my most intimate friends, that we have 

 stood in the position tirst of pu})il and mastc'r. and afterwards of col- 

 leagues and coworkers. 1 am in the fortunate position of being able 

 to present to you on this occasion something more than a description 

 of the scientitic work which he accomplished, the I'ecord of which any- 

 one who cares to do so can gather up from his published memoirs. 

 From my personal I'ecoUections 1 propose to lay before you a picture, 

 doul)tless im])erfectly. I»ut so far as my abilities go, truly drawn, of 

 the man, working in his laboratory, lecturing to his students, and 

 enjoying sim])le but retini'd social intercourse with his friends. I 

 shall hope to give you an idea what manner of man he was, what was 

 his moral, as well as his scientitic character, to point out why he was 

 not only venerated as a great leader and teacher, but why he inspired 

 all with whom h(» came in contact with feelings of deep attachment 

 and regard. 



But tirst let me shortly mention some few particulars of his life, and 

 giye you a summary of his most important iuyestigations. Bunsen 

 was born at Gottingen on March 81, 1811. His father. Christian Bun- 

 sen.' occupied the position of chief university librarian and professor 

 of modern philology. After passing through the usual course in the 



^Born at Frankfort on April 1, 177U; died March 24, 1837. 



