PROFESSOR AT HEIDELBERG 279 



had passed the time of the war. But it had become too wintry 

 there, so I went for three weeks to Meran, and yesterday 

 returned home by the Engadine and Chur.' 



Owing to the happy and unexpectedly rapid course of the 

 war, du Bois was able by October 13 to assure Helmholtz 

 that the Diet was to meet in November, when his appointment 

 would be definitely concluded, but that in view of current 

 events the building of the new Institute would have to be 

 postponed for a time, to which Helmholtz agreed on October 17, 

 provided a promise were given him that the matter should be 

 proceeded with so soon as the State had recovered its normal 

 financial balance, and, further, that such temporary provision 

 was made for himself and a few students, as would enable 

 him both to do some experimental work himself, and to direct 

 his pupils. This was agreed to by the Prussian Ministry 

 on December 16, 1870. 



Before the end of the year Helmholtz went to Berlin with 

 his wife, where they found a fine, detached dwelling in the 

 Konigin-Augusta-Strasse, and soon brought the provisional 

 arrangements for the Physical Institute to a satisfactory con- 

 clusion. The Ministry at once began to negotiate for the 

 purchase of a site for the new Institute, giving him temporary 

 quarters in the University for his instruments, and a Laboratory 

 in the Herbarium, which was accommodated elsewhere, while 

 they acceded to all minor demands with alacrity. Helmholtz 

 and his wife returned to Heidelberg, well satisfied with their 

 reception from the du Bois-Reymonds and other distinguished 

 people in Berlin. 



On January 2 Helmholtz applied for his demission from the 

 service of the Baden Government, and in a few weeks' time 

 received the document, signed by the Emperor William at 

 Versailles on February 13, 1871. 



A few days after his return from Berlin he received a letter 

 from Sir William Thomson, asking if he were disposed to 

 accept the Professorship of Experimental Physics at Cambridge, 

 which, despite the munificent conditions, he was of course 

 obliged to refuse. 



1 And thus/ writes du Bois, ' occurred the unparalleled event 

 that a doctor and professor of physiology was appointed to 

 the most important physical post in Germany, and Helmholtz, 



