Meeeting of Naturalists at Hamburgh. 273 



Busch, Unzer, Gries, and the great composer Bach ; and from 

 its great estimation of learning, and the support given to de- 

 velopement of talent, is likely to have, from time to time, si- 

 milar brilliant stars appearing on its commercial horizon. It 

 may be equally unknown to Mr Johnston, that the readiness of 

 the Hamburghers in promoting objects of science is of old stand- 

 ing ; and of the general acknowledgment in later periods, Mr 

 Johnston instances himself, Beuzenberg's Experiments on the 

 Fall of Bodies, (page 240.) But what Mr Johnston relates 

 to have been done by the town for the assembly, is in such con- 

 tradiction with many of his observations, that his best advocates 

 could scarcely be able to protect him against the charge of in- 

 consistency. With regard to the luxury of Hamburgh, Mr 

 Johnston does wrong to judge by the splendid entertainments 

 occasionally given to visitors ; although it may be certain, tak- 

 ing a general view of it, that the Hamburghers, who are good 

 calculators, have also in this instance not been out of their 

 reckoning ; for at the elegant and splendid breakfast at the bo- 

 tanic garden, it has been proved by evidence, that a great many 

 of the learned men found also other points of attraction besides 

 science ; and as Mr Johnston called that hour " one of the hap- 

 piest he spent in Hamburgh," wc may take it for granted 

 that he did not belong to the class of those who he describes 

 (page 2:31) as having wondered. 



Wealth is a natural and necessary condition of a great com- 

 mercial city ; but it must be acknowledged by the most prejudi- 

 ced, that the inhabitants of that great emporium of German 

 commerce understand to give it a most proper direction by 

 philanthropic institutions, by devclopenient of talent, and by a 

 comfortable mode of living and liberal hospitality. In the fa- 

 mily-circle of respectable merchants, Mr .Johnston must, how- 

 ever, have found, if he has had the good fortune to frequent 

 them, that nothing of ostentation and extravagance prevails 

 there; but certainly a noble hospitality, and the visible desire 

 to make themselves agreeable i<> their guests, without the latter 

 being either merchants or rich ; their respectable standing in 

 the learned world being sufficient qualification to entitle them to 

 deference and respect. (Having myself with many of my col- 

 leagues been in that predicament, I can vouch lor the fact.) 

 The conversation in such limited domestic circles displayed 



