decline of science in england-第36章
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hope that these preparations will meet with your approbation； imposes upon me the duty of reminding you； that； although you had entrusted to two travellers； equally； the duty of making these arrangements； yet it is to one alone； my noble friend； M。 Lichtenstein； that the merit of careful precaution and indefatigable activity is due。 Out of respect to the scientific spirit which animates the Society of German Naturalists and Natural Philosophy； and in acknowledgment of the utility of their efforts； government have seconded all our wishes with the greatest cheerfulness。
In the vicinity of the place of meeting； which has in this manner been prepared for our general and special labours； are situated the museums dedicated to anatomy； zoology； oryctognosy； and geology。 They exhibit to the naturalist a rich mine for observation and critical discussion。 The greater number of these well…arranged collections have existed； like the University of Berlin； scarcely twenty years。 The oldest of them； to which the Botanical Garden； （one of the richest in Europe） belongs； have during this period not only been increased； but entirely remodelled。 The amusement and instruction derived from such institutions； call to our minds； with deep feelings of gratitude； that they are the work of that great monarch； who modestly and in simple grandeur； adorns every year this royal city with new treasures of nature and art； and what is of still greater value than the treasures themselves；what inspires every Prussian with youthful strength； and with an enthusiastic love for the ancient reigning family；that he graciously attaches to himself every species of talent； and extends with confidence his royal protection to the free cultivation of the understanding。
This was followed by a paper on magnetism； by Professor Oersted； and several other memoirs were then read。
The arrival of so many persons of similar pursuit； （for 464 members were present；） rendered it convenient to have some ordinary； at which those who chose might dine； and introduce their friends or families。 This had been foreseen； and his Majesty had condescended to allow the immense building used for the exercise of his troops； to be employed for this purpose。 One…third of it was floored on the occasion； and tables were arranged； at which； on one occasion； 850 persons sat down to dinner。 On the evening of the first day； M。 de Humboldt gave a large SOIREE in the concert rooms attached to the theatre。 About 1200 persons assembled on this occasion； and his Majesty the King of Prussia honoured with his presence the fete of his illustrious chamberlain。 The nobility of the country； foreign princes； and foreign ambassadors； were present。 It was gratifying to observe the princes of the blood mingling with the cultivators of science； and to see the heir…apparent to the throne； during the course of the evening； engaged in conversation with those most celebrated for their talents； of his own； or of other countries。
Nor were the minor arrangements of the evening beneath the consideration of the President。 The words of the music selected for the concert； were printed and distributed to the visitors。 The names of the most illustrious philosophers which Germany had produced； were inscribed in letters of gold at the end of the great concert room。
In the first rank amongst these stood a name which； England； too； enrolls amongst the brightest in her scientific annals； and proud； as well she may be； of having fostered and brought to maturity the genius of the first Herschel； she has reaped an ample reward in being able to claim as entirely her own； the inheritor of his talents and his name。
The six succeeding days were occupied； in the morning； by a meeting of the academy； at which papers of general interest were read。 In the afternoon； through the arrangement of M。 de Humboldt and M。 Lichtenstein； various rooms were appropriated for different sections of the academy。 In one； the chemical philosophers attended to some chemical memoir； whilst the botanists assembled in another room； the physiologists in a third； and the natural philosophers in a fourth。 Each attended to the reading of papers connected with their several sciences。 Thus every member was at liberty to choose that section in which he felt most interest at the moment； and he had at all times power of access to the others。 The evenings were generally spent at some of the SOIREES of the savans； resident at Berlin； whose hospitality and attentions to their learned brethren of other countries were unbounded。 During the unoccupied hours of the morning； the collections of natural history； which are rapidly rising into importance； were open to examination； and the various professors and directors who assisted the stranger in his inquiries； left him equally gratified by the knowledge and urbanity of those who so kindly aided him。
A map of Europe was printed； on which those towns only appeared which had sent representatives to this scientific congress； and the numbers sent by different kingdoms appeared by the following table； which was attached to it； Russia。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1 Austria 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 0 England 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1 Holland 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 2 Denmark 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 7 France 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1 Sardinia 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 0 Prussia 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 95 Bavaria 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 12 Hanover 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 5 Saxony 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 21 Wirtemburg 。 。 。 。 。 。 2 Sweden 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 13 Naples 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 1 Poland 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3 German States 。 。 。 。 。 43 … 206 Berlin 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 172 … 378
The proportion in which the cultivators of different sciences appeared； was not easy to ascertain； because there were few amongst the more eminent who had not added to more than one branch of human knowledge。 The following table； though not professing to be very accurate； will afford； perhaps； a tolerably fair view：
Geometers 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 11 Astronomers 。 。 。 。 。 。 5 Natural Philosophers 。 23 39
Mines 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 5 Mineralogy 。 。 。 。 。 。 16 Geology 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 9 30
Chemistry 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 18 Geography 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 8 Anatomy 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 12
Zoology 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 14 Natural History 。 。 。 。 8 Botany 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 35 57
Physicians 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 175 Amateurs 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 9 Various 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 35 … 381
A medal was struck in commemoration of this meeting； and it was proposed that it should form the first of a series； which should comprise all those persons most celebrated for their scientific discoveries in the past and present age。
APPENDIX； No。 2。
An examination into some charges brought against one of the twenty…four candidates； mentioned in a note as having their names suspended in the meeting…room of the Royal Society； at one time； has caused a printed pamphlet to be circulated amongst the members of the Society。 Of the charges themselves I shall offer no opinion； but entreat every member to judge for himself。 I shall； however； make one extract； which tends to show how the ranks of the Society are recruited。
EXTRACT FROM A PRINTED LETTER FROM A。 F。 M。 TO J。 G。 CHILDREN； ESQ。 DATED； 22； UPPER BEDFORD…PLACE； MARCH 13； 1830。
〃When I wished you to Propose me at the Geological Society； you asked me why you should not propose me also at the Royal Society； and my answer was； that it was an honour to which I did not think I could aspire； that my talents were too insignificant to warrant such pretensions。 Many days passed； and still you pressed me on the subject； because your partiality made you think me deserving of the honour； but I resisted； really through modesty； not that I did not covet the distinction； until something was said of my paper on the meteoric mass of iron of Brazil； which was published some years ago in the Transactions of the Royal Society； when you insisted on proposing me； and I assented gratefully； because I was and am desirous of being a Fellow of the Royal Society； if I can be supposed wort
