252 HERMANN VON HELMHOLTZ 



ship of Physics there, which caused him a good deal of agitation 

 and unpleasantness. 



The Prussian and Baden Governments had already had one 

 tussle for the possession of Helmholtz, but the Baden authori- 

 ties did not see any need for complying with the wish of Prussia, 

 and releasing Helmholtz from his obligations. They knew too 

 well what a powerful intellect they had secured for Heidelberg. 



Helmholtz had now spent ten years of activity in Heidelberg, 

 and had as the greatest scientific man of the day, along with 

 Bunsen and Kirchhoff, supported the glory of the University ; 

 he was happy in his family relations ; he had all the advantages 

 of intercourse with his many distinguished colleagues ; and it 

 would have required very strong inducement to make him 

 contemplate the idea of leaving Heidelberg. 



The Chair of Physics and of Mathematics in Bonn had been left 

 vacant by the death of Plucker, and on May 28, 1868, the 

 Curator of the University, Beseler, approached Helmholtz with 

 the inquiry whether it would be possible to induce him to take 

 the Professorship of Physics. Helmholtz made an interesting 

 and characteristic reply : 



1 Physics was really from the outset the science which prin- 

 cipally attracted my interests : I was mainly led to medicine and 

 thereby to physiology by the force of external circumstances. 

 What I have accomplished in physiology rests mainly upon 

 a physical foundation. The young people whose studies I now 

 have to direct are, for the most part, medical students, and most 

 of them are not sufficiently grounded in mathematics and 

 physics to take up what I should consider the best of the 

 subjects that I could teach. On the other hand, I see that the 

 younger generation in Germany is not making any substantial 

 progress in scientific, and especially in mathematical physics. 

 The few great names in this branch, which is the true basis of 

 all proper natural science, are old, or begin to recede into the 

 older generation, while there is no new generation rising up to 

 take their place ; and on this account I must say to myself that 

 if I could get an influence over my pupils in this department^ 

 I might perhaps do more important work there than in 

 physiology, where a vigorous school is now in full and growing 

 activity. That would be an aim that might repay me for the 

 labour of taking the new work of a new post upon me, instead 



