FKOM ACCESSION OF FKEDEKICK WILLIAM IV. TO 1848. 281 



When Humboldt perceived how lavishly the royal dilettante 

 could expend upon fancy edifices and other undertakings con- 

 nected with the fine arts, he began to cherish the hope that by 

 exciting his interest in science, he could induce a similar 

 liberality in its support. On the discovery of the planet 

 Neptune, in 1846, ' he made the most of the occasion to point 

 out to the king and the ministry the importance of science.' 

 With no other object did he read aloud to the king of an 

 evening on scientific subjects, or throw out a thousand in- 

 structive hints in conversation upon the results of recent 

 scientific investigations. W T ith the same view he would read 

 to the king the letters from other sovereigns he had received 

 in reply to communications addressed to them for the purpose 

 of awakening an interest in some scientific enterprise ; for his 

 labours in the cause of science extended even to foreign coun- 

 tries. In 1844 the Grand Duke of Tuscany expressed his thanks 

 to Humboldt in a ' truly sympathetic letter,' for the recom- 

 mendations he, 'as the father and patron of the natural sciences,' 

 had given him, ' in order that Tuscany might be enriched by 

 many men of distinction.' l Christian VIII. of Denmark, with 

 whom Humboldt, as we have seen, had already been in corre- 

 spondence, showed a courteous readiness to receive counsel and 

 enter freely into a discussion of scientific subjects. Along with 

 Arago, Humboldt had induced the King of Denmark in 1843 

 to grant a sum of money to Hansen for the completion of his 

 lunar tables. ' Anxious always to merit your approbation, 

 Monsieur le Baron,' writes King Christian on May 3, 2 ' I desire 

 to be guided by your wisdom, and I shall be pleased at any 

 time to hear from you on scientific subjects.' Humboldt was 

 so delighted with the success of his intercession, and the gra- 

 cious manner in which his request had been granted, that he 

 designated the Danish kingdom as ' the Fortunate Islands :.' 

 ' I think those islands deserve to be called " Islas fortunatas " 

 which are governed by a prince of so much intelligence, gentle- 

 ness, and enlightenment.' 3 He was much disturbed that the 



1 ' Briefe an Varnhagen,' Nos. 88, 89. 



2 Ibid. No. 81. See No. 58, p. 97. 



3 Letter to Schumacher of May 18, 1843. 



