AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 267 



feeling of shame. My native town, Potsdam, has con- 

 ferred its freedom on me. To all this must be added 

 countless individuals, scientific and personal friends, 

 pupils, and others personally unknown to me, who have 

 sent their congratulations in telegrams and in letters. 



But this is not all. You desire to make my name 

 the banner, as it were, of a magnificent institution 

 which, founded by lovers of science of all nations, is 

 to encourage and promote scientific inqufry in all 

 countries. Science and art are, indeed, at the present 

 time the only remaining bond of peace between 

 civilised nations. Their ever-increasing development is 

 a common aim of all ; is effected by the common work 

 of all, and for the common good of all. A great and a 

 sacred work ! The founders even wish to devote their 

 gift to the promotion of those branches of science 

 which all my life I have pursued, and thus bring me, 

 with my shortcomings, before future generations almost 

 as an exemplar of scientific investigation. This is the 

 proudest honour which you could confer upon me, in 

 so much as you thereby show that I possess your un- 

 qualified favourable opinion. But it would border on 

 presumption were I to accept it without a quiet ex- 

 pectation on my part that the judges of future 

 centuries will not be influenced by considerations of 

 personal favour. 



My personal appearance even, you have had repre- 



