611 



Sir, — The number of your journal for March last contained the 

 draft of a proposed address of condolence to Prof. C. G. Nees von 

 Esenbeck. Very many of your readers who participate with yourself 

 in those feelings of pity for the illustrious septuagenarian which the 

 unworthy conduct of his oppressors is calculated to inspire, must 

 have observed with regret that no allusion has since been made to 

 this proposed expression of sympathy ; and it is even whispered 

 abroad — with what truth I do not pretend to determine — that the 

 project itself has been abandoned, owing to the fear entertained by 

 some lest a show of honest indignation at a contemptible act of 

 tyranny should give offence in certain courtly circles. It is repug- 

 nant to my disposition to obtrude myself where so many better men 

 might take the lead ; but, since no one has volunteered to come for- 

 ward of late, I confess that I feel a pride in reminding the scientific 

 world, however imperfectly, of the claims possessed by the venerable 

 Professor to respect and admiration. For a quarter of a century the 

 President and chief support and ornament of the first learned aca- 

 demy in Europe, an indefatigable and voluminous author, alike dis- 

 tinguished as a philosopher, a botanist, and a physician, original in 

 his views, lucid, terse, and eloquent in his style, various and profound 

 in his learning, of few can we say with more justice, 



" Nil unquain tetigit quod non ornavit.'' 



It is known that the pitiful excuse put forward for Prof. Esenbeck's 

 removal from the chair he has so long filled with distinction is a do- 

 mestic event, which occurred about twenty years ago ! and for which 

 no liberal or charitable individual will now call him to account. The 

 real motive for this arbitrary act is, however, to be found in the cir- 

 cumstance of his having, as a member of the Prussian Parliament, 

 rendered himself obnoxious to a retrograde ministry, by the consistent 

 and unwavering advocacy of good faith, reform, and constitutional 

 government. May this be borne in mind ! — the latest acts of a long 

 life, spent, not in offering at ducal council-tables Jesuitical advice 

 how best 



" To fool the crowd with glorious lies," 



but in the zealous and unremitting examination of Nature, in the 

 study of mind and matter, consisted in an enlightened effort to ad- 

 vance those liberal views which render our position such as it is. 



The suspicions mentioned above may, unhappily, be well founded ; 

 and some persons may withhold their adhesion through motives of 



