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quainted with the present state of magnetism, of zoology, of botany, 

 of geology, or of physical geography, who is not aware of the extent 

 and value of Baron Humboldt's researches. A scientific traveller of 

 the highest order, he zealously endeavoured to advance the science 

 of physical geography in its widest sense, regardless of toil and ex- 

 pense, and at great personal risk. Distant regions of the globe were 

 in turn his habitation, and with remarkable patience, and a sagacity 

 peculiarly his own, he sought out Nature's laws under every modi- 

 fication of climate. The mass of facts which he has given to the 

 world, carefully arranged and discussed, constitute a mine of infor- 

 mation from which Cosmogonists will long continue to draw with 

 profit ; while in its vastness it will be regarded with astonishment 

 as the work of one man. 



The Chevalier Bunsen then replied as follows : — 

 My Lord President, 



This occasion is one of great solemnity, and to me one of almost 

 overwhelming emotion. The most ancient and illustrious scientific 

 institution of Europe has awarded its highest honour to the Nestor 

 and Prince of the men of science of my country. The Council of 

 this Society have done me the honour to propose to me to receive 

 that Medal in the name of my illustrious friend, and he has been 

 pleased to signify that this arrangement is gratifying to him. I may 

 add, that I know that the King whom I have the honour to represent 

 in this country, takes a deep interest in this occasion. 



Nobody, 1 am sure, appreciates more fully than that great man 

 himself, the value of the approbation of England and Enghsh science 

 expressed in your award. It so happened that Humboldt's first im- 

 mortal efforts were made in the time when England was almost 

 entirely separated from the Continent ; insomuch that he came 

 hither not earlier than in 1818. The interest which England took 

 in him and his works has since that time been sincere and constantly 

 increasing. I only repeat what he has often expressed to me in his 

 letters and by word of mouth, if I say, that he feels this increasing 

 general interest as one of the blessings of his old age. Your 

 scientific men knew him for half a century as one of those heroes 

 to whom Science owes gratitude for eminent services — the geographer 

 and the botanist, the physical and the historical philosopher, the geo- 

 logist, the astronomer and the zoologist. 



But the great national interest dates from a later time ; and what 

 could be more satisfactory to him, than that its organ should be, on 

 so solemn an occasion, that Society which for more than 200 years 

 has taken the lead in so many branches of science, a Society which 

 counts Newton among its most active members ; which has first ap- 

 plied Science to History and to Antiquities ; which has carried the 

 torch of scientific inquiry into the recesses of the Pyramids and the 

 night of ancient chronology ; which has made the first successful 

 efforts in the unrolling of the Greek Papyrus rolls of Herculaneum, 

 and which has elucidated so many important points of Roman topo- 



