134 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



through the length and breadth of the earth, and endowed 

 with enduring existence, that led the ancient philosophers in 

 search of sympathetic intercourse to undertake 'long journeys 

 from their home in Greece, or in the Doric and Ionian colo- 

 nies in Magna Grsecia and in Asia Minor. That ancient race 

 knew the value of living words, the animating influence of 

 contact with a master mind, and the enlightening power of 

 converse when of a free, unpremeditated, and discriminating 

 character, on subjects connected with science and philosophy. 

 Without a diversity of opinion the discovery of truth is im- 

 possible, since truth in its entirety cannot be seen and recog- 

 nised by all at once. Every step taken in advance by the 

 student of science leads him to the entrance of a new labyrinth. 

 The mass of doubts, so far from being diminished, are rather seen 

 to spread, like a moving film of cloud, from one field of research 

 to another. Those who regard as a golden age the time when 

 diversity of opinion, or, as it is usually termed, the disputes of 

 the learned, shall be completely adjusted, exhibit as little in- 

 sight into the requirements of science and its ceaseless progress 

 as those who, in idle self-sufficiency, boast that they have main- 

 tained during a long life the same views in geology, chemistry, 

 and physiology. 



< The founders of this Association have, with a keen percep- 

 tion of the unity of nature, united in the most intimate manner 

 every branch of physical science, whether prosecuted by de- 

 scription, measurement, or experiment. The physicians among 

 our members may also be ranked as scientific investigators. 

 Connected physically with the type of a lower order of form, 

 man completes the series of higher organisms, while, considered 

 physiologically and pathologically, he scarcely offers a distinct 

 class of phenomena. All that relates to this important branch 

 of medical study, which may be considered as a department of 

 natural science, belongs in a peculiar manner to this Associa- 

 tion. Important as it is not to loosen the tie that connects 

 the investigation of organic and inorganic nature, the in- 

 creasing compass and gradual development of this Society 

 seem to render it necessary that, in addition to the public 

 assemblies to which this hall is devoted, sectional meetings 

 should be instituted for the reading and discussion of papers 



