KESIDENCE AT BEELIN TO THE KEVOLUTION OF JULY. 93 



with. Though some came only to Berlin after Humboldt's 

 arrival, drawn thither probably through his influence, others 

 had been already long resident there ; but from their youth and 

 inexperience it was hardly to be expected that they should 

 supply the place of the old-established and oft-tried friends from 

 whom he had been severed. Humboldt, who in Paris had 

 lived through this brilliant period of scientific energy, could not 

 have anticipated that the wave of culture was to pass on to 

 Berlin, and therefore could scarcely regard his removal to the 

 Prussian capital as a gain to the interests of science. 



The result of these observations on the momentous event of 

 Humboldt's return to his native city may be summed up as 

 follows. He left a wealthy and important city, profusely en- 

 dowed with everything that could assist scientific inquiry, espe- 

 cially in the branches in which he was most interested, to settle 

 down amid the small interests of an insignificant capital, at the 

 head of a kingdom where the revenue, raised with difficulty, 

 was obliged to be devoted exclusively to practical purposes. He 

 resigned the enviable position of a universally welcome guest 

 in the midst of cultivated and agreeable society to become a 

 member of a court in every point of view of a contracted cha- 

 racter, in the midst of a city community without a political 

 creed, restricted even where its interest was most keenly ex- 

 cited by local considerations, and split up into parties animated 

 by a spirit at once arrogant and impatient. He tore himself 

 away from his customary habits, and broke up friendships never 

 again to be fully renewed ; he was withdrawn from an existence 

 which had become to him a second nature, and for the loss of 

 which no position, however exalted, could afford him compensa- 

 tion, not even to be the acknowledged leader in art or science, 

 since the unavoidable isolation of such a position could not but 

 cramp his energies. He felt at Berlin as if belonging to another 

 iige, and by his extensive travels had become too cosmopolitan 

 to derive consolation from the thought that he was once more 

 upon his native soil ; for he had no reason to suspect that 

 the Prussian nation had before her a future of unexampled 

 greatness, and that before this destiny could be accomplished 

 he was himself to originate a glorious epoch in science of which 

 he was to form the brilliant centre, while the captivating city he 



