128 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



ments in science. Associations of a similar character had since 

 been held every autumn, and had excited universal sympathy, 

 for they were felt to be the expression of the general yearn- 

 ing for national unity. They were also regarded with favour 

 by Government, as they seemed to provide a means of diverting 

 the dreaded tendency to political combinations. The second 

 meeting of the Association, held at Halle in 1823, was not 

 only honoured by the patronage of Altenstein, but received 

 from the king himself, by an order in council, the expression 

 of his warm approbation and interest. 1 No less gracious was 

 the reception accorded to the Association at Dresden and at 

 Munich in the years 1826 and 1827. 2 In determining the 

 place of meeting for the ensuing year 1828 a discussion 

 arose as to the rival claims of Berlin and Breslau, and it was 

 principally owing to Humboldt's influence with the king and 

 the scientific men of Berlin that preference was given to the 

 capital. Lichtenstein, the rector of the University, was com- 

 missioned to be the bearer of the invitation. He was appointed 

 to be secretary and Humboldt president of the committee for 

 organising suitable arrangements for the reception of the 

 Association. Herr von Kamptz expressed uneasiness at the idea 

 of Oken, with his known democratic tendencies, making his 

 appearance at Berlin, while Humboldt urged that he should be 

 invited to show that his influence was not feared : this decided 

 the course of the king, who was thus convinced that the matter 

 could in no way prove prejudicial to the crown, and testified his 

 acquiescence accordingly. 3 



Persistently as Humboldt afterwards endeavoured to attribute 

 the merit of the successful arrangements to Lichtenstein, he 

 was yet most indefatigable himself in securing the brilliant 

 success of the meeting by procuring the attendance of the 

 most distinguished men of science and arranging for their recep- 

 tion. 'During the sojourn of the philosophers,' writes Zelter 

 to Groethe on August 30, 1828, ' it seems that all our great 

 guns are to be fired off in succession. Alexander von Humboldt 



1 Varnliagen, ' Blatter/ vol. ii. p. 435. 

 " Ibid. vol. iv. pp. 121, 327. 



3 Ibid. vol. iv. p. 327 5 see ' Briefrvechsel zwisclien Goetlie imd Zelter/ 

 vol. iv. p. 381. 



