FROM ACCESSION OF FREDERICK WILLIAM IV. TO 1848. 267 



but the initiated knew what was taking place. 1 With increas- 

 ing discontent he perceived, during the important events of 

 the year 1847, that he was not included in the mystic bond ; 

 but it was only through an occurrence of a semi-political, 

 semi-scientific character, which took place at the Academy 

 during the months of January and February, that he had in- 

 disputable evidence of the fact. At the public sitting held 

 in commemoration of Frederick the Great, on January 28, an 

 historical address had been delivered in presence of the king by 

 Friedrich von Eaumer, in which he had dwelt at some length 

 upon the tolerance and liberality of religious sentiment by which 

 that great monarch had been distinguished. To modern readers 

 the speech, which is marked by no brilliant display of talent, 

 appears to contain so simple a statement of facts that surprise 

 is excited that it should -ever have given offence ; but the con- 

 temporaries of Frederick William IV. chose to consider it as an 

 intentional satire upon their sovereign and his ecclesiastical 

 proclivities, and no doubt the address was designed by Eaumer 

 to have a controversial aspect. Though receiving the usual 

 formal congratulations, the speaker had been greeted by his 

 opponents with outbursts of wild indignation. 2 The king was 

 exceedingly indignant that on several occasions the audience 

 behind him had laughed aloud ; and on leaving, he remarked 

 to Humboldt : ' One is compelled to hear laughter over things 

 that ought to make one weep.' To Eichhorn he wrote that 

 it was the last time he should go to the Academy to sit through 

 such 'jesting.' The majority of the academicians were greatly 

 embarrassed by the incident, and immediately set to work to 

 prepare some kind of apology. The occurrence placed Hum- 

 boldt in an awkward dilemma. In writing to Schumacher 

 on February 1, he expressed himself in unhesitating com- 

 mendation of ' Eaumer's sensible denunciation of the modern 

 school Of theology with which the king had indeed been 

 but ill pleased,' adding, not without a slight tinge of malice : 

 c We live in skirmishing days.' At first he conducted himself 

 valiantly, and crossed swords with Encke for sending an abusive 



1 Varnhagen's ' Tagebiicher,' vol. ii. p. 247. 



* Ibid. vol. iv. pp. 10, 11, 13, 26, 27, 29, 39, 42, 44. 



