28 Guyot on Carl Bitter. 



How many, in this busy world of America, will attempt the 

 careful reading of the nineteen volumes, the twenty thousand 

 pages of close text, which compose the portion of the " Erd- 

 hunde" now published ; and that, too, in that rich, beautiful, 

 but by no means easy tongue of Germany. These, I con- 

 fess, are real obstacles much to be regretted, but which 

 ought to be overcome, and ought not to be allowed to cut 

 us off from the abundant stores of knowledge accumulated by 

 that great scholar. 



You have honored me, gentlemen, with a request to 

 address you upon this occasion on the life and the works of 

 Carl Eitter. I thank you for this privilege, for such I feel it 

 to be. I responded to the call, however, with no small degree 

 of diffidence. But aroused in my University days, by the 

 teachings of that venerable and much beloved friend, to the 

 study of his favorite science, which soon became mine ; guided 

 in further steps by his kind, affectionate, and ever-ready 

 advice ; cheered on at every stage of my scientific career by 

 his deep sympathy, and the spontaneous expression of an 

 unqualified approval — the last of which, traced a few days 

 before the cold hand of death took the pen from his hand, has 

 for me the solemn significance of his scientific will ; — loaded 

 with such favors on his part, I felt that no personal considera- 

 tion could justify me in declining the opportunity thus offered 

 publicly to express the feelings of deep gratitude, and almost 

 filial affection, which bind me to that great man, and at least 

 to attempt to do justice before you to his claim to the grati- 

 tude of cultivated mankind. The task, however, as the 

 nature of the subject may soon prove to you, is not an easy 

 one, and it is in all sincerity, and more for his memory than 

 for myself, that I must beg your indulgence for my willing, 

 but perhaps inadequate, efforts. 



The life of Eitter offers no great or stirring events. It is 

 modest and serene, like himself. But it derives a peculiar 

 interest from the circumstances by which a watchful Provi- 

 dence afforded, contrary to human expectation, the means best 

 appropriate to a full development of the faculties with which 

 he was endowed, and from his readiness eagerly and faithfully 

 to improve every opportunity thus offered to him. 



Carl Eitter was born on the 7th of August, 1779, in the 

 city of Quedlinburg, the birthplace of the great poet, Klop- 

 stock, in the mountainous region of the Harz, in Prussian 

 Saxony. He thus belongs, by the first twenty years of his 

 life, so decisive for the character of every man in after life, to 



