7 16 
Wohler and Liebig. 
[December, 
“ Cassel, March 3, 1834. 
“ I have just received a letter from Poggendorff, who ur- 
gently desires me to join him in begging you to leave your 
paper against Mitscherlich unfinished. Though he has 
communicated to me its contents only quite in general, I 
am horrified at the thought of the scandal you are about to 
begin. Granted that you are perfectly in the right, that 
scientifically as well as personally you have cause to com- 
plain, by doing this you stoop from the elevated position in 
which posterity will see you to a vulgar sphere, where the 
lustre of your merits is sullied. I hope you won’t believe 
that I want to flatter you. Do not think that your attacks 
will harm Mitscherlich in the eyes of the world ; his real 
merits, which even you must acknowledge, will always 
secure him an honourable place, and as in France, as well 
as in Germany, you have the repute of being quarrelsome, 
the unfavourable opinion will fall back on yourself. 
“ Transport yourself into the year 1900, and let us sup- 
pose that Mitscherlich has taken no notice of your attacks, 
and established his reputation still more firmly by success- 
ful discoveries. What would you think of yourself, what of 
him, in reading about the quarrels of the year 1834 ? What 
is the good of it ? You will annoy Mitscherlich a little, 
amuse the public, embitter your life, and ruin your health. 
Believe me that people will only look upon these contests as 
the outbreaks of a paltry spirit. Good-bye, dear friend, and 
don’t be angry at my sincerity.” 
Wohler to Liebig. 
“ Gottingen, March 9, 1843. 
“ To contend with Marchand or with somebody else will 
do you no good whatever, and be of little use to Science. 
It only makes you angry, and hurts your liver. 
“ Think of the year 1934 : what will it matter, then, 
whether we have lived in peace or in enmity ? who will then 
care for your quarrels, for the sacrifice of your health and 
spirits, in the cause of Science? Nobody; but your ideas, 
the new fadts which you have discovered, — that is what will 
rest in the memory of men, what will always be acknow- 
ledged.” 
A quality especially characteristic of Wohler, and which 
rendered him especially dear to his friends, was his perfedt 
modesty. With the utmost energy he refuses what he 
