CHARACTERISTIC TEAITS AND PERSONAL INCIDENTS. 63 



In a similar manner Humboldt took Dirichlet by the hand. 

 He introduced him to Arago in 1825, gave him a recommenda- 

 tion to Sturm, and endeavoured, through the minister Von 

 Altenstein, to obtain for him employment in Prussia. In 

 1826 he informed Dirichlet that his efforts on his behalf were 

 likely soon to be successful, and during a visit to Berlin in the 

 same year Humboldt obtained by his personal influence the 

 appointment -of Dirichlet as Professor Extraordinary at the 

 University of Breslau. He recommended him to pass through 

 Berlin on his way to Breslau, where he was by no means to 

 omit seeing Eytelwein, Nicolovius, Savigny, and Encke, and 

 shortly after wrote to say he hoped soon to see him appointed 

 at Berlin. 



Great exertions too were made by Humboldt to secure to 

 Malte-Brun, a native of Denmark and an exile from his 

 country, a just appreciation by the men of science in Paris. 

 He introduced him to Laplace, gained for him the acquaintance 

 of Leopold von Buch, and Lewy, the English geographer, and 

 placed him in communication with the editors of several of the 

 scientific periodicals of Grermany. 



Even while in Paris he neglected no opportunity of further- 

 ing the interests of young students of science in his native 

 country. He was one of the first to recognise the mathematical 

 genius of Grauss, and although William von Humboldt failed 

 to obtain his appointment to the proposed university of Berlin, 

 Alexander continued to interest himself unremittingly on his 

 behalf. In dedicating the fourth part of his great work, which 

 was edited principally by Qltmanns, to Grauss and Zach, Hum- 

 boldt remarks : ' Separated as I have been for so many years 

 from my native land, and busy as I now am with preparations 

 for another expedition, I have not grown so indifferent to the 

 glory of Grermany as not to have indulged in a feeling of 

 exultation over the great work you have so happily accom- 

 plished. On my return to Europe, the first and only request 

 I ventured to make to the King of Prussia was on your behalf. 

 It is from no want of effort on my part that you are not now 

 in the enjoyment of a brilliant position in my native city.' 



Many other instances might be adduced of the kind interest 

 Humboldt took in all zealous labourers in the field of science. 



