EESIDENCE AT BEELIN TO THE REVOLUTION OF JULY. 119 



individual minds, he was in reality revealing himself as the 

 representative genius of the age, in whom was reflected the 

 spirit of the times. 



Moreover, these lectures were naturally of a slighter character 

 than those delivered before the University. The descriptions of 

 nature were for the sake of clearness extended over ten lectures, 

 from the second to the eleventh : the next two lectures treated 

 of the history of cosmography 'history of physical science,' 

 as it is termed on this occasion in his manuscript abstract of 

 contents and then followed isolated c studies,* thus indicated 

 in the fragmentary notes : ' Aspect and illusory effect of the 

 Starry Heavens, Interference, Rays of Light, the Stars, the 

 Southern Constellations, the Moon, Lunar Volcanoes, Aerolites, 

 the Solar Spots, the Picturesque.' The close of the winter 

 season brought to an abrupt termination this somewhat hetero- 

 geneous list of subjects. Even in this second more public course 

 of lectures, Humboldt did not fail to bring into notice his 

 distinguished contemporaries in scientific labour Seebeck, 

 Encke, Bessel, Grustav Eose, Buch, Weiss, and others. As 

 Schlegel is also alluded to, we may presume that during the 

 introductory remarks he referred to Schlegel's lectures as having 

 served him as a model, and those who are familiar with his 

 oratorical style will be able to figure to themselves the modest 

 expressions he would make use of in regard to his own powers. 

 Humboldt has on several occasions noted down the attendance 

 of the king or crown prince. 



It may readily be supposed that the lectures at the music hall 

 created a greater sensation at Berlin than those delivered 

 before the University. The following report appeared in the 

 * Yossische Zeitung' on the day after the first lecture: 'The 

 grace and dignity of the delivery, the attractiveness of the 

 subject, and the deep learning of the lecturer, who appears 

 to have at his command an inexhaustible store of knowledge, 

 present a combination of qualities so invaluable for oral instruc- 

 tion that the listener is enchained by an irresistible power. 

 The audience was perhaps one of the most distinguished that 

 ever filled a lecture-room. Their royal highnesses the crown 

 prince and princess, with other members of the royal family, 

 occupied the boxes, while the lower gallery was filled with ladies, 



