PARENTAGE 5 



political conversation even in his own house. Henceforward 

 he took his solitary walks to the mill of Sans Souci, and buried 

 himself in philosophical reflections. 



But if Ferdinand Helmholtz thus avoided any open ex- 

 pression of political opinion, his philosophical views would 

 not permit him to keep silence in questions of ecclesiastical 

 orthodoxy. An array of sketches and notes for speeches still 

 bears witness to his profound philosophical ideas and noble 

 religious convictions. His relations to his wife and his plans 

 for the education of his children were based on genuine reli- 

 gious and ethical feelings. But he abhorred all ecclesias- 

 tical bigotry, and subscribed unhesitatingly to a declaration 

 published on August 15, 1845, by such men as Alschefski, 

 Bellermann, Bonnel, Jonas, Lisco, Meinecke, &c., which began 

 with the words, 'A party has organized itself within the 

 Protestant Church which clings tenaciously to the conception 

 of Christianity inherited from the earliest traditions of the 

 Reformation. This formula is its Pope. Faithful are such 

 as submit themselves to it unconditionally, unfaithful and 

 politically suspect all who have not joined it ' ; adding, ' We 

 declare that we believe a healthy issue of this contest to be 

 possible only if the right of free development is maintained 

 intact on all sides/ 



We are thus able to form some picture of Ferdinand 

 Helmholtz, and to understand the almost exaggerated ap- 

 preciation of the friend with whom he maintained a life-long 

 correspondence, and made many a journey. This was Imanuel 

 Hermann Fichte, son of Gottlieb Fichte, and Professor of 

 Philosophy in Tubingen from 1842, who writes of ( unalterable, 

 and ever increasing affection a reciprocal attachment that was 

 of the weightiest consequence in both our lives '. 



Helmholtz pursued his vocation as teacher faithfully till 

 1857, with the utmost devotion to his duties. He followed 

 the later career of his children with affection and interest, 

 but was always, in virtue of his serious philosophical tempera- 

 ment, a somewhat exacting critic. Finally, when his energies 

 began to fail, he applied for a pension, which was granted with 

 a gratifying recognition of his long and faithful service. 



