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Nees von E sen beck. 



We are glad to find that we are not singular in sympathizing with 

 the unfortunate Nees von Esenbeck, a man whose only fault it is to 

 hold opinions contrary to those of the party which has acquired the 

 ascendency in Germany. Our able contemporary, Hooker's ' Journal 

 of Botany,' in announcing to its readers that M. Nees von Esenbeck 

 had been requested to continue as President of the L. C. Academy of 

 Naturalists, and that he had assented, continues : — " This mark of re- 

 spect towards one of the most classical and distinguished botanists of 

 the age, who during a long series of years has contributed vastly to 

 the celebrity of the Academy, will be hailed, not only by its own mem- 

 bers, but by every lover of Natural Science." Such generous expres- 

 sions are highly creditable, both to the journal in which they appear 

 and the writer from whose pen they issued, and cannot but comfort 

 the illustrious philosopher to whom they refer. 



Most of our readers are aware that M. Nees von Esenbeck is the 

 victim of the political re-action on the Continent, but few know the 

 cold-blooded manner in which he has been persecuted. M. N. von 

 Esenbeck has always been the friend of freedom, — for who can be a 

 thinking man without being so? — and has so much enjoyed the confi- 

 dence of his countrymen, that, a few years ago, he was elected Member 

 of Parliament. His eloquence, his sound reasoning, and the warmth 

 with which he spoke, soon gave him influence in the Assembly, so 

 much so that he became the leader of the popular party. He always 

 remained faithful to his colours ; and when so many deserted the cause 

 which they had advocated, when oaths were violated as soon as ut- 

 tered, and treaties broken before the ink was dry, M. N. von Esenbeck 

 was true to his principles ; and neither bribery nor threats produced 

 any effect upon him. Venerable from his age, distinguished as a phi- 

 losopher, and eloquent as an orator, it was evident that the influence 

 of such a man was to be feared. Moreover, he was no hero of the 

 barricades ; he had been legally elected, and conducted his discus- 

 sions with prudence and propriety, and strictly within the bounds of 

 parliamentary license. But, as silence was thought indispensable, M. 

 Nees von Esenbeck was suddenly suspended in his functions as Pro- 

 fessor in the University of Breslau, and reduced to circumstances of 

 the most distressing nature. An excuse for this arbitrary act, how- 

 ever, was thought necessary ; and, as despotism is never in want of 

 arguments, however sophistical, to give a colouring to its proceedings, 

 a domestic misfortune rather than a fault of M. N. von Esenbeck's 

 VOL. IV. 3 o 



