148 A Page of Scientific History. [April, 



London. This we are most willing to do, but we believe that 

 we ought to do more for you — we ought to obtain a promise 

 from the Prussian Government that, should you feel disposed 

 to return to Germany after two years, you should be allowed 

 to join the University of Bonn with such promotion as you 

 would in all probability have attained by remaining in Bonn. 

 What would your position probably be after two years ?" I 

 said that if I had good luck, I should then hold an Extra- 

 ordinary Professorship. "This is exactly what the Chevalier 

 Bunsen says," replied Sir James, " and we must take care to 

 make them promise that they will appoint you Professor 

 Extraordinary when you return." The Chevalier Bunsen 

 said that it was a very uncommon thing to give promises of 

 this kind, but that if Prince Albert were to speak upon the 

 subject to the King, the demand might after all be granted. 

 He himself meanwhile undertook to submit the case to the 

 minister." I said that if they succeeded in carrying out this 

 scheme I should be ready to go to-morrow. This was really 

 a day of good luck. The great state transaction which was 

 to accomplish so important a result was carried on with 

 unheard-of despatch. The King, the Prince, and the 

 minister were, in fact, close at hand ; they all, together with 

 my two new protectors, being inmates of the castle of 

 Bruhl. After two hours, during which I took a charming 

 morning walk in the beautiful gardens of the castle, we met 

 again. When I entered Sir James's room, I found him 

 beaming with delight. His mission had been perfectly 

 successful. The Prince and the King had discussed the 

 question, and the latter agreed to everything the former had 

 demanded. The Chevalier Bunsen in his interview with 

 the minister had found more difficulties. " The minister," 

 he said, " cannot promise to make an appointment after the 

 lapse of two years, because he does not know whether at 

 that time he may be still in office. All he can do for Dr. 

 Hofmann will be this. He can at once appoint him to 

 an Extraordinary Professorship in the University of Bonn, 

 and then give him leave of absence for two years." I had 

 no objection to this mode of getting over the difficulty. 



In October, 1845, the analytical course of the College of 

 Chemistry commenced, a temporary laboratory having been 

 established in Great George Street, Hanover Square. A 

 considerable number of students (about twenty) at once 

 entered, and afforded sufficient evidence that an institution 

 like the one projected was really wanting in England. 



The opening of the school in these temporary laboratories 

 having been effected, the council proceeded to look forward 



