62 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



4 As for me, a stranger without introductions in a city where 

 the confluence of so many men of distinction from all parts of 

 the world forms the greatest barrier to making personal ac- 

 quaintance with the celebrated men of learning and science 

 there assembled, I should most probably have remained, as so 

 many others have done, lost in the vast crowd, and perhaps 

 there have perished, had you not once for all rescued me from 

 such a danger. 



' From that time all doors were thrown open to me, I had 

 access to every institution and every laboratory ; the great 

 interest you took in me procured me the love and intimate 

 friendship of my instructors, Gray-Lussac, Dulong, and Thenard, 

 to all of whom I became deeply attached. The confidence 

 which you accorded me was the means of my introduction into 

 a sphere of labour which during the last sixteen years it has 

 ever been my ambition worthily to occupy. 



' How many others am I acquainted with, who, like myself, 

 are indebted to your kindness and protection for the op- 

 portunity of prosecuting the schemes they had formed for 

 the advancement of science. The chemist, the botanist, the 

 physicist, the oriental scholar, the eastern traveller, the 

 artist all have shared equally the privilege of your interest 

 and patronage ; with you there was never any distinction of 

 nation or country. The obligations you have in this way 

 rendered to science do not come before the notice of the world, 

 but they will ever remain deeply engraven upon the hearts of 

 all whom you have befriended. 



' It is a pleasure to me thus to express publicly the feelings 

 of deep veneration and heartfelt gratitude with which you 

 have inspired me. 



' Of the little work that I have taken the liberty to dedicate 

 to you, I scarcely know whether I can claim any portion 

 as my own ; when I read the introduction written by you, forty- 

 two years ago, to the work by J". Ingenhousz on " The Nutri- 

 ment of Plants," it appears to me as if I had but carried out 

 and exemplified the ideas which were there first advanced by 

 one who has ever been the sincere friend of all that is noble, 

 beautiful, and true, by one who has proved himself to be 

 the most zealous and industrious investigator of this century.' 



