EARLY LIFE AND STUDIES. 261 



the University were worked too hard to leave much 

 time for the receptions and social gatherings in which 

 Young delighted. So he quitted Gottingen on August 

 28, ' with as little regret as a man can leave any place 

 where he has resided nine months.' 



From Gottingen he walked to Cassel, and thence by 

 Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar, and Jena, to Leipzig. He saw 

 everything which to him was worth seeing, and as he 

 carried letters of introduction from the most eminent 

 men of the age, he was welcomed everywhere. Most 

 of the professors were absent on their holiday, but at 

 Weimar he conversed with Herder, who, though well 

 versed in the English poets, cared nothing, it was said, 

 about rhyme. At Jena he found Biitmer, who, at the 

 age of eighty-three, was about to begin the publication 

 of a general dictionary of all existing languages. He 

 visited Dresden, the Saxon Switzerland, and the mines 

 of Freiberg. Here he made the acquaintance of the 

 celebrated Werner. From Freiberg he went to Berlin, 

 where he dined twice with the English Ambassador, 

 Lord Elgin, and once with Dr. Brown, a Welsh physi- 

 cian in great favour with the King. Over the mono- 

 tonous sandy flat that lies between the two cities he 

 journeyed from Berlin to Hamburg. Detained here for 

 a time by adverse winds, he was treated with great 

 hospitality. 



One word in conclusion regarding the German 

 schools of learning. Germany is now united and strong ; 

 her sons are learned, and her prowess is proved. But 

 the units from which her blended vigour Mas sprung 

 ought not to be forgotten. These were the little 

 principalities and powers of which she was formerly 

 composed. Each of them asserted its individuality 

 and independence by the establishment of a local Uni- 

 versity, and all over Germany, in consequence, such 



