RESIDENCE AT BERLIN TO THE REVOLUTION OF JULY. 129 



and Lichtenstein are unceasingly occupied with preparations for 

 the reception of such distinguished guests, and in fact when the 

 time comes it will be seen that liberal hosts attract noble 

 guests.' l A work of still greater importance was securing the 

 active participation of men of scientific distinction. As early 

 as May 25, 1828, Humboldt writes to Schumacher: 'I am 

 endeavouring to persuade Herr Grauss to attend our philosophers' 

 fete on the 18th of September.' He was also anxious to pre- 

 vail on Schumacher to be present: C 0nly through names 

 like these can the splendour of such an assembly, grown 

 unfortunately to such unwieldy dimensions, be insured.' On 

 July 18, he sent from Teplitz the official invitation to Grauss, 

 whose presence he was particularly anxious to secure. On 

 August 14, upon his return from Teplitz, he again wrote from 

 Sanssouci, where he was spending a few days with the crown 

 prince, repeating his invitation in the most affectionate terms, 

 and offering to receive him into his own house, where he should 

 enjoy every comfort and the most perfect freedom, though he 

 could but place one room that, however, a large one at his 

 disposal. ' You will find a hearty welcome at my house, though, 

 on account of my bachelor loneliness, it has not many charms 

 to offer you.' On September 8, after expressing the liveliest 

 satisfaction at his acquiescence, he continues : ' On the 18th I 

 am to give an opening address, and on the same evening I 

 shall expect your presence at a small entertainment I am 

 going to give to 600 of my friends in the concert-room of the 

 theatre. The king and crown prince have promised to at- 

 tend.' He was by no means insensible to the ludicrous aspect 

 presented by the Association. In writing to Decandolle at 

 Geneva, on August 18, he says: 'I do not tell you of the 

 400 scientific friends whom I am expecting from Grermany 

 and Scandinavia. Such an invasion of philosophers is enough 

 to make one tremble.' 2 He wrote in a similar strain to 

 Dirichlet on August 10: 'Shall we not see you during the 

 invasion of philosophers ? or do you dread the chaos of 

 this literary fair ? ' Then, with sudden change of tone, he 



1 ' Briefwechsel zwischen Goethe und Zelter/ vol. v. p. 104. 



2 De la Roquette, i Humboldt, Correspondance/ vol. i. p. 274. 



VOL. II. K 



