Scientific Meetings. 285 



tion, where, in ranging himself on the Uberal side of the question, 

 he does not appear with his accustomed liberality. It is where 

 he attributes to the governments of the German States, an im- 

 proper control over these interesting meetings, whilst it is evident 

 to every one, that they are especially encouraged and protected 

 by the very governments he hints at. The insinuations too, that 

 Prince Metternicht discourages them, contrary to the wish of the 

 Emperor, appear to be brought forward merely to support a bad 

 pun, ' a la milady Morgan,' upon the Prince's name — " II est 

 comme un Roi ce Mitternacht," said a Halle man to me. 



We do not presume to express any opinion upon the manner 

 in which Prince Metternicht may discharge his duty to his sove- 

 reign, but we are not ignorant of Germany, and do not believe a 

 word of the allegation brouglit — we believe without considera- 

 tion, — against this distinguished personage, who is one of the best 

 informed men in Europe, and whose taste and attainments in 

 natural science, have, we venture to predict, insured all honour 

 and protection to the Naturforscher, in their past session, which 

 was to take place at Vienna in September last, under the very 

 eye of the Prince. A valued friend of ours, whose name is at 

 this time pre-eminently conspicuous in Europe in geological 

 science, in a letter from Vienna, says, " I met Prince Metternich 

 at dinner, at Lord Cowley^s, and had a tete a tete with him on geolo- 

 gy : I found him quite au courant, and certainly a most accomplished 

 and universal man." Such testimony as this, which accords with • 

 what we have otherwise heard of this great statesman, makes us 

 turn a deaf ear to such ill founded suspicions of his being un- 

 friendly to the cause of natural history. With this single excep- 

 tion, we repeat, that we have been highly pleased with Mr. 

 Johnston's narrative, which has, in no small degree, made us de- 

 sirous of receiving the earliest intelligence of the meeting at 

 Vienna. 



That a society of this kind, constituted by delegates from all 

 the branches of science, should be imitated in other countries, 

 was to be expected, and especially in England. Annual meet- 

 ings of this nature, unless attended by eminent men, would sink 

 into insignificance, and Germany is too extensive a country, its 

 principal cities too far separated from each other, to admit of the 

 most eminent men annually leaving their homes and pursuits, 

 upon a visit to a distant country. It is probable, that ere long, 



