234 ALEXANDER .VON HUMBOLDT. 



science, and affording every encouragement to the advancement 

 of art. We feel it therefore to be a delightful duty, dictated 

 by feeling and not by custom, to offer upon this day of public 

 festivity the expression of our admiration and reverential 

 gratitude towards these two illustrious benefactors.' The testi- 

 mony of history leads to the suspicion, notwithstanding his 

 assertion to the contrary, that Humboldt is here guided more 

 by the dictates of custom than of feeling, while his comments 

 upon ' the high moral qualities of the king, and his honesty 

 of purpose as a sovereign,' are acknowledged to be just and 

 felt to be sincere. 



