for the Advancement of Science. 4155 



meeting was held here, which gave rise to the fearful struggle in Baden. On the day 

 mentioned, it presented a very peaceable appearance. On passing the boundaries of 

 the town, the naturalists were received by two heralds on horseback, in the costume of 

 the middle ages, both holding banners in their hands. The one was dressed in the co- 

 lours of Reutlingen ; the other in those of Germany — black, red, and gold. Just out- 

 side the city gates there was a triumphal arch, and the cathedral and all the steeples 

 of the churches were profusely decorated with flags and streamers. The weather was 

 beautiful. In one of the public gardens the dinner table had been spread in the open 

 air, where at least 1500 people sat down. During dinner a well-conducted band kept 

 playing. A fine effect was produced by a chorus of singers, consisting of peasants, 

 both men and women, of the neighbouring district ; they were all dressed in their na- 

 tive costume, and, headed by a fine looking fellow of their party, who carried their 

 banner, they marched around the table at which the naturalists were sitting. After 

 dinner, most of the party paid a visit to the Achalm, the ruins of a castle mentioned 

 in one of Uhland's ballads. The view from thence was charming. The vineyards 

 surrounding the ruin, the town of Reutlingen, the rivulets, the distant chain of moun- 

 tains, with its old feudal castles, formed a pleasing panorama, and amply repaid the 

 exertions of those who, after taking in a hearty dinner, and letting the wine-bottle 

 pass freely, had climbed the summit. In returning about eight o'clock in the 

 evening to Tubingen, there was a firework on the top of the hill on which the castle 

 is built. It produced almost a magical effect to see the old Gothic building illumined 

 by the different coloured fires, and the numerous rockets, with their blue, red, 

 and white nuclei, shooting up into the sky. In short, there was plenty of amuse- 

 meut during the whole time of the meeting. Balls, conceits, dinner-parties, alternated 

 with each other; there was even once, so as to give a notion of German student-life, a 

 representation of a "Kneipe," in which grave professors, throwing aside for a while all 

 reserve, acted the part of students and freshmen. 



The scientific part of the meeting was equally satisfactory. In the three general 

 or public sittings none but subjects treated in a popular manner were this time 

 admitted, and all papers that could in the least offend the ear of ladies had been 

 strictly rejected, — a laudable restriction, probably adopted in consequence of the com- 

 plaints made by the press that medical subjects not intended for any but medical men 

 had been brought forward. One of the first speakers was Jaeger, of Stuttgart, who 

 gave a brief account of the last year's labours of the Imperial L. C. Academy of Natu- 

 ralists, detailing that, as the first German institution, it had assumed the protectorship 

 over the Societies of German Physicians at Paris and New York, that it had asked for 

 three prize essays, and that the King of Wirtemberg had shown his good will towards 

 the Academy by presenting it with a sum of money, to be devoted to scientific explor- 

 ing expeditions. Schultze, Bip., read an interesting paper ' On the Development of 

 the Natural Sciences from the Middle of the Sixteenth Century until the Middle of the 

 Nineteenth.' He assumed three periods: — 1st, The period when knowledge was 

 handed down by oral tradition ; 2nd, When it was propagated by writing ; and 3rd, 

 When perpetuated by printing. The present time he looks upon as the commence- 

 ment of a fourth period, when, by the intimate international intercourse and the power 

 of steam, knowledge is rapidly diffused. Dove, of Berlin, gave a comprehensive ac- 

 count of the present state of meteorology, and a very clear explanation of the causes 

 which determine the weather of Europe. Carnal spoke on the importance of salt, 

 gold, and coal, — three monosyllables playing an important part in the affairs of the 



