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to the King beforehand, that the Academy of Sciences would elect, 

 as a member of their body, M. Riess, a Jew, and that the King 

 had replied, he would give his assent to the election without any 

 hesitation. 'I hope,' added he, 'that your brother has not com- 

 mitted the folly of putting in the statutes, that no Jew ought to be 

 in the Academy.' Minister Eichhorn knew that the King had no 

 scruples, but to himself the thing was disagreeable, and he thought 

 it also offensive to Thiele, Rochow, Stolberg, and others. He there- 

 fore kept back for six weeks the application of the Academy for the 

 Royal Assent, and then he wrote to the Academy to know whether 

 they were aware that Riess was a Jew. The Academicians were 

 indignant at that question, and unanimously replied that they 

 adhered to their statutes, that they had made an election in accord- 

 ance with them, and that they returned the Minister's question as 

 an improper one, without answering it. This rebuke Eichhorn 

 quietly pocketed, and at last despatched to the King the request for 

 his assent, which was immediately granted. However, the King- 

 seemed to feel some dissatisfaction on ascertaining that he was grant- 

 ing what Eriedrich the Great had refused, viz., the admission of a 

 Jew to the Academy. Eriedrich did not give his consent to the elec- 

 tion of Moses Mendelssohn, because, as it was believed, they did not 

 know whether the Empress of Russia, Catherine, who was a member 

 of the Academy, would be pleased with such a colleague." 



On the 30th of August, 1842, Yarnhagen remarks in his Diary : 

 "Humboldt tells me of Eichhorn' s meannesses, and much of the 

 King's amiability, good humour, wit, and joviality. But he thinks 

 that he does not give up his favourite views ; that he will adhere to 

 his intentions, even if he should appear to withdraw them. The King 

 was more pleased with Count Mortimer Maltzan than with any other 

 of his ministers ; he had full confidence in him, and expected every- 

 thing of him. Discussion about the meaning of the word geistreich, 

 and in how far it was applicable to the King. Humboldt thinks 

 also the King is anxious to travel to Greece, and that then he will 

 be sufe to go on to Jerusalem. He says it is to be feared, that 

 at last the parsons will get him in their power, and will break his 



