136 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



by year new treasures of art and wonders of nature for the 

 adornment of the capital, and accomplishing the still more 

 important task of encouraging among the Prussian people the 

 free development of intellect, and inspiring them with a hearty 

 devotion to the ancient reigning house, by according the royal 

 protection to talent, in whatever form it may be exhibited.' 



It will scarcely be necessary to enter into an analytical dis- 

 cussion of this speech, in order to bring out the full beauty of 

 this masterpiece of rhetoric. With a graceful turn, the speaker 

 passes in the opening of his address from a modest reference 

 to his own position to the. influence the Association would 

 exert upon the interests of his country. While giving distinct 

 prominence to the intellectual unity of the nation, he does not 

 omit to point out the greater facility in the growth of scien- 

 tific culture undeniably afforded by its disconnected political 

 existence. After referring to the international character of 

 science, he is naturally led to accord a greeting to the foreign 

 visitors, touching with the most delicate tact upon all personal 

 relationships. Lauding without reserve the illustrious dead, of 

 the living leaders of science he refers only to the absent by 

 name, while of those present he alludes to the distinguished 

 foreigners Berzelius and Oersted only by a reference to their 

 valuable labours ; to his fellow-countrymen of a later genera- 

 tion he makes no allusion, with the exception possibly of Besse], 

 who unfortunately was unable to attend. While gratefully 

 acknowledging the indefatigable assiduity of Lichtenstein, and 

 tendering his thanks for the ready assistance of all public 

 officials, he concludes by an allusion to the king, couched in 

 terms of most exalted praise, yet so framed as not to hide the 

 weakness of his character. The second and most important 

 part of the address is remarkable for the clearness in which ? 

 without exaggeration, he sets forth the value of the Asso- 

 ciation in establishing the reciprocal relationships between 

 various scientific men, the effect of which he estimates in the 

 spirit in which it was valued by the ancients. He then adds 

 in a few words the announcement of a practical innovation 

 he had ventured to introduce in the institution of sectional 

 meetings. Such an arrangement was in fact the only means 

 of securing practical results from the aimless generalities- 



