110 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



indulge in a correspondence which, from its enthusiastic cha- 

 racter, recalls the extravagant devotion of the Hainbund, 1 a 

 passionate sentimentality of which wecpld Epigoni have now 

 no comprehension. Of all these friends, however, none ex- 

 ercised so decided and permanent an influence over him as 

 young Freiesleben, who became his inseparable companion, 

 ever ready with advice and enthusiastic sympathy in the 

 various branches of his mining studies. It may be confidently 

 asserted that in the moulding of his thoughts in this direc- 

 tion, Humboldt felt more indebted to young Freiesleben 

 than to any of the instructors under whom he studied at 

 Freiberg a statement that receives ample confirmation in the 

 long and connected series of letters addressed to him by Hum- 

 boldt between the years 1792 and 1799, as well as by various 

 occasional letters written up to the latest years of his life. 



The subjects at this time embraced in the college training 

 may be thus sketched. Werner gave lectures on the art of 

 mining, the classification of minerals, geology, and the smelting 

 of iron, besides conducting classes for the working out of 

 problems in mining. Charpentier, who in the first instance had 

 lectured on particular branches of mining operations, especially 

 on the machinery employed, had in 1784 been succeeded by his 

 pupil Lempe, who, in addition to these subjects, gave instruc- 

 tion on pure and applied mathematics. Kohler lectured on 

 the existing laws of the country relating to mining, Klotzsch 

 on the art of essaying, while Freiesleben, the father of Hum- 

 boldt's youthful friend, gave instruction in practical survey- 

 ing as applied to mines. A lectureship in chemistry was first 

 added in 1794 under the tuition of Lampadius. 



With so many opportunities for acquiring an intimate ac- 

 quaintance with the various branches of this science, Humboldt 

 was able to write as follows to his friend at Dresden : 'I am 

 living very happily here in Freiberg, although alone. I shall 

 be able to accomplish the various scientific purposes I wished to 

 attain by a residence here. I entered upon my labours, which 

 are certainly of a multifarious character, immediately upon my 

 arrival. I spend nearly every morning from seven till twelve in 

 the mines, in 'the afternoon I attend lectures, and of an evening 



1 [A society formed among the students at Gottingen.] 



