RESIDENCE AT BERLIN TO THE REVOLUTION OF JULY. 117 



with which he grasps the facts discovered by himself and others, 

 in the various branches of science, and arranges them in one 

 comprehensive view, he throws so clear a light upon the bound- 

 less region of the study of nature, that lie has introduced a 

 new method of treating the history of science. For facts, in 

 their most ordinary aspect and most diverse relationships, 

 when thus harmonised, acquire a surprising value in depart- 

 ments in which at first they seem to have no connection.' 

 Through the somewhat veiled style of this newspaper report 

 savouring of the school of Hegel there may yet be traced the 

 deep impression that Humboldt's lectures made upon the mind 

 of his audience, who, it would seem, far from consisting merely 

 of students, comprised 'all the Berlin professors,' and the 

 educated of every class. The fame, indeed, of the first course 

 spread all over the country. From Metz, on December 13, 1827, 

 Arago writes : ' I hear you are going to give a course of lec- 

 tures upon physical geography to the students at Berlin. Do 

 you not intend to publish them ? If you reply affirmatively I 

 shall at once devote myself to the study of German.' That the 

 interest excited by these lectures was not confined to tyros in 

 science and art, is apparent from the fact that from notes made 

 during these lectures, Waagen was incited to compile his essay 

 on the development of landscape-painting, especially in the 

 post-Roman period, the influence of which was subsequently 

 traceable in ' Cosmos.' 



It soon became no longer possible for Humboldt to restrict 

 his lectures to the ' caps and gowns.' A second course before a 

 more extended audience was announced to take place in the 

 music hall. These were also delivered without a manuscript, 

 and in contradistinction to Schlegel the admission was free. In 

 a tone of hurt feeling, he wrote to correct a statement in the 

 * Moniteur universel ' that he gave subscription lectures, the 

 charge for the course being three louis d'or : ' In Germany, as 

 in France, no money is taken at a public lecture,' 1 The lectures 

 at the music hall were sixteen in number, and were delivered for 

 the most part at intervals of a week between December 6, 1827, 



and April 27, 1828. The 'mixed character' of the audience, 



i 



1 De la Roquette, vol. i. p. 271. 



