Robert Wilhelm Bunsen. 49 



regards experimental results and as regards their literary expression. 

 So that his published memoirs all serve, both in matter and manner, as 

 classical examples which will long remain fertile sources of both 

 pleasure and profit to generations of scientific students. 



As a lecturer, Bunsen shone not by attempts at declamation or ora- 

 torical effect, but by the originality of his views, the aptness of his 

 experimental illustrations, and the clearness of his exposition. It was, 

 however, as a laboratory teacher that he chiefly excelled. It is in the 

 laboratory that experimental ^science is really learnt, and there it was that 

 his marvellous ingenuity in the construction of new apparatus out of the 

 simplest materials, and his wonderful manipulative dexterity was best 

 seen. There, inspired by his continual presence, the student learnt to 

 participate in his devotion and zeal, and took to heart a lesson that in 

 order to found or to carry out a successful school of experimental 

 science the teacher must work alongside of the pupil. Up to 1889 he 

 continued indefatigably to instruct a host of the younger chemists 

 whose work did not fall short of that done by their elder confreres. 

 Nor was his own scientific energy abated, as shown in the numerous 

 researches published in these later years. Amongst them may be 

 noted those on the metals of the platinum group ; his work on flame 

 reactions; the important one on the ice-calorimeter; and, lastly, the 

 one on the vapour-calorimeter. 



After he retired from active work he continued to reside in Heidel- 

 berg, taking an interest almost up to the last in the scientific progress 

 of the day, and quietly enjoying the friendship and society of the few 

 scientific friends who still remained, for most of his intimates had long 

 since passed away. 



The titles of no fewer than eighty-four memoirs by Bunsen are given 

 in the catalogue of the Royal Society up to the year 1883, whilst 

 twenty more were published by him in conjunction with one or other 

 of his pupils or friends. 



In 1858 Bunsen was elected a Foreign Fellow ; in 1860 the Copley 

 Medal was awarded to him; and seventeen years later he, together 

 with his colleague, Kirchhoff, became the recipients of the Davy Medal. 



A memorial address by Dr. Curtius, the present Professor of Chem- 

 istry at Heidelberg, was delivered in the Aula of that University on 

 November llth (1899)., 



H. E. R. 



