64 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS 



conquests of Prussia. Not before they were about 

 to leave Berlin, and to continue their studies 

 elsewhere, the great king died, and they were 

 spared the humiliating spectacle of approach- 

 ing weakness, internal dissolution, and moral 

 corruption, which subsequently visited Berlin. 



Having pursued together their earlier studies, 

 the brothers entered also at the sa.me time upon 

 their academical career. The neighbouring 

 university of Frankfurt an der Oder enjoyed 

 at that period a high reputation ; and this and 

 other reasons induced Madame de Humboldt 

 to select this seat of learning for her sons. 

 In the company of their friend Kunth they 

 left Berlin in the year 1786, in the same year 

 in which Frederick the Great died, and pro- 

 ceeded to Frankfort, with the intention to 

 remain for two years. Here they prosecuted 

 their studies with diligence and success, and 

 removed in the spring of 1788 to Gottingen, 

 much to the satisfaction of Alexander, who 

 manifested daily his great predilection for the 

 study of natural philosophy ; for in Gottingen 

 he would have an opportunity to meet a star of 

 first magnitude, Blumenbach, the eminent 

 professor of physical science, who, in a most 

 brilliant manner, surveyed and classified the 

 varied branches and domains of science. Here 



