OFFICIAL EMPLOYMENT. 131 



with Count Kheden. If ever I was industrious, I was so there. 

 I wrote out my report on the salt works of Traunstein and 

 Eeichenhall, which occupied twenty sheets, and which I illus- 

 trated by drawings on twenty-one large sheets of royal paper. 

 I have been more engaged than usual with drawing this year. 

 I practise it unremittingly, especially plan drawing, which in 

 my present position I find of great importance. I am just now 

 engaged in some researches among the mountains with Count 

 Eheden. - I came here yesterday from his estate at the foot of 

 the Schneekoppe in a sleigh, and to-morrow I go with him 

 recta via to Berlin.' 



During his stay at Breslau, Humboldt was elected associate 

 of the Leopold-Charles Imperial Academy of Natural Science, 

 in a manner that was peculiarly flattering to him. By the 

 laws of the Academy, it is required that no one shall be 

 eligible for membership who has not previously received the 

 degree of Doctor from one of the Universities. The president, 

 however, is empowered to summon at any time a sitting of the 

 faculty in any of the Universities throughout the German 

 Empire, for the examination of any candidate he may present 

 to them, and for conferring upon him, ' examine vili superato,' 

 a Doctor's degree by imperial authority; Von Schreber, therefore, 

 the president at that time, who seems to have prophetically 

 beheld, even at this early period (1793), the future achievements 

 of the proposed member, proceeded without delay to arrange 

 for Humboldt's reception on June 20. The following address 

 was presented at his election : 



6 Esto igitur, ex merito, nunc quoque noster ! Esto Academise 

 Csesarese Naturoo Curiosorum decus et augmentum, macte 

 virtute Tua et industria, et accipe, in signum nostri Ordinis, 

 cui Te nunc adscribo, ex antiqua nostra consuetudine cognomen 

 Timceus Locrensis, quo collegam amicissimum Te hodie primum 

 salutamus.' l 



1 The surname Timaus bears a flattering reference to the Pythagorean 

 philosopher of that name, described by Plato in one of his dialogues, who 

 by birth and fortune ranked among the first citizens of Locri, was invested 

 with the highest offices of the town, and was the author of a work still 

 extant on the nature and the soul of the world (TT* pi i//xc xoafiov KOI qvvwt-). 

 Sixty-two years later, in the year 1855, the President of the Academy, 

 Nees von Esenbeck, renewed the homage of this honorary memorial. The 



K 2 



