342 The Botanical Gazette. [November, 
dress, but after maintaining a self-appointed conspicuity fora 
single session, reappeared in the afternoon clothed and in 
their right minds. 
The moving spirit in the management of the Congress was 
Professor Penzig. In his capacity of general secretary he 
was the life of the entire Congress. Readily speaking four 
languages, of infinite patience, always cheerful, and even at 
times overflowing with good spirits, he conducted the affairs 
of the Congress in a manner that won him the admiration of 
every one in attendance. His tall gaunt form was every- 
where, making strangers at home, answering the multitudin- 
ous detail of annoying questions, now attending to routine, 
now reading papers before the Congress, now carrying out 
the complicated business details of the excursions, unruffled, 
ubiquitous, urbane—the very soul of good nature, and a 
prince in management. 3 
While the official language of the Congress was Italian, 
none of the presiding officers used it, and it would be difficult 
to say whether Italian, French or German predominsa a 
the heat of discussion the polyglot approximated the Babe 
of tongues. The soft, rhythmic cadences of the a aise 
Italian were followed by the earnest but often harsh ete 
the deep, soul-stirring German; the suave nasals of the pol 
ished French succeeded the blunt but copious and spe 
English. Never were we more happily disappointed in * 
apparent strength of a spoken language, as compared oe 
its seemingly weak terminations in print, than we were In ‘be 
ening to the Italian. Never were we so impressed with 
necessity of a common language for scientific yeas 
never more convinced that English will ultimately be 
chosen language. ie ; 
At the opentag of the scientific sessions which were ge 
the grand hall of the University? Thomas Hanbury bare 
the honorary president of the sessions. There bee oe 
six vice presidents of whom Ascherson, Burnat, ee 
Borodin, Chodat, Durand, Haussknecht, Kny, Me ee 
nin, Moore, Prantl, Pfitzer, Radlkofer, Strashe ee 
wood, Vasey, Vilmorin, Marshall-Ward and Me first 
present. The ballot among the vice presidents for —a¢ 
: university organization establish 
2Founded as a Jesuit College, 1623; 
1812. 
