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Alexander von Humboldt: „Account of the great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin, on the 18th of September, 1828“, in: ders., Sämtliche Schriften digital, herausgegeben von Oliver Lubrich und Thomas Nehrlich, Universität Bern 2021. URL: <https://humboldt.unibe.ch/text/1828-xxx_Rede_gehalten_bei-15-neu> [abgerufen am 29.03.2024].

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Titel Account of the great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin, on the 18th of September, 1828
Jahr 1830
Ort London
Nachweis
in: Charles Babbage, Reflections on the Decline of Science in England, and on Some of its Causes, London: B. Fellowes 1830, S. [213]–223.
Sprache Englisch
Typografischer Befund Antiqua; Auszeichnung: Kursivierung, Kapitälchen; Fußnoten mit Asterisken; Tabellensatz.
Identifikation
Textnummer Druckausgabe: IV.94
Dateiname: 1828-xxx_Rede_gehalten_bei-15-neu
Statistiken
Seitenanzahl: 11
Zeichenanzahl: 20551

Weitere Fassungen
[Rede, gehalten bei der Eröffnung der Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte in Berlin, am 18ten September 1828] (Hamburg, 1828, Deutsch)
Alexander von Humboldt’s Rede bei Eröffnung der Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte (Frankfurt am Main, 1828, Deutsch)
M. de Humboldt (Paris, 1828, Französisch)
Rede, gehalten bei der Eröfnung der Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte in Berlin am 18 Sept. 1828 (Augsburg, 1828, Deutsch)
[Rede, gehalten bei der Eröffnung der Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte in Berlin, am 18ten September 1828. Von Alexander von Humboldt] (Paris, 1828, Französisch)
Bruchstücke aus der Rede Alexander’s v. Humboldt bey Eröffnung der Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher u. Aerzte in Berlin, am 28. Sept. 1828 (Gotha, 1828, Deutsch)
Mowa Alexandra Humboldta, miana na piérwszém posiedzeniu (Vilnius, 1828, Polnisch)
[Rede, gehalten bei der Eröffnung der Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte in Berlin, am 18ten September 1828. Von Alexander von Humboldt] (Berlin, 1828, Deutsch)
Account of the great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin on the 18th September 1828. Communicated by a Correspondent (Edinburgh; London, 1829, Englisch)
Amtlicher Bericht über die Versammlung deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte zu Berlin im September 1828, erstattet von den damaligen Geschäftsführern A. v. Humboldt und H. Lichtenstein. Nebst einer lithogr. Sammlung eigenhändiger Namenszüge der Theilnehmer (Berlin, 1829, Deutsch)
Eröffnungsrede (Leipzig, 1829, Deutsch)
Bericht ueber die Versammlung Deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte in Heidelberg, in September, 1829 [...]. Rede, gehalten bei der Eroeffnung der Versammlung Deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte in Berlin, am 18ten September, 1828 (Boston, Massachusetts, 1830, Englisch)
Congress of philosophers (New York City, New York, 1830, Englisch)
Congress of philosophers (Baltimore, Maryland, 1830, Englisch)
Account of the great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin, on the 18th of September, 1828 (London, 1830, Englisch)
|213| In presenting to my readers the account of themeeting of men of science at Berlin, in the autumn of1828, I am happy to be able to state, that its influencehas been most beneficial, and that the annual meetingto be held in 1831, will take place at Vienna, theEmperor of Austria having expressed a wish that everyfacility which his capital affords should be given topromote its objects. It is gratifying to find that a country, which hashitherto been considered adverse to the progress ofknowledge, should become convinced of its value; andit is sincerely to be hoped, that every one of the nume-rous members of the Society will show, by his conduct,that the paths of science are less likely than any othersto interfere with those of politics.

Account of the great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin, onthe 18th of September, 1828. From the Edinburgh Jour-nal of Science, April, 1829.

The existence of a large society of cultivators of the naturalsciences meeting annually at some great capital, or some |214| central town of Europe, is a circumstance almost unknown tous, and deserving of our attention, from the important ad-vantages which may arise from it. About eight years ago, Dr. Okens, of Munich, suggesteda plan for an annual meeting of all Germans who cultivatedthe sciences of medicine and botany. The first meeting, ofabout forty members, took place at Leipsic, in 1822, and itwas successively held at Halle, Wurtzburg, Frankfort on theMaine, Dresden, Munich, and Berlin. All those who hadprinted a certain number of sheets of their inquiries onthese subjects were considered members of this academy. The great advantages which resulted to these sciencesfrom the communication of observations from all quartersof Germany, soon induced an extension of the plan, andother departments of natural knowledge were admitted,until, at the last meeting, the cultivators even of pure ma-thematics were found amongst the ranks of this academy. Several circumstances, independent of the form and con-stitution of the academy, contributed to give unwontedsplendour to the last meeting, which took place at Berlin inthe middle of September of the last year. The capital selected for its temporary residence is scarcelysurpassed by any in Europe in the number and celebrity ofits savans. The taste for knowledge possessed by the reigning family,has made knowledge itself fashionable; and the severesufferings of the Prussians previous to the war, by whichthemselves and Europe were freed, have impressed on themso strongly the lesson that “knowledge is power,” that itseffects are visible in every department of the government;and there is no country in Europe in which talents andgenius so surely open for their possessors the road to wealthand distinction. Another circumstance also contributed its portion to in-crease the numbers of the meeting of the past year. Theoffice of president, which is annually changed, was assignedto M. Alexander de Humboldt. The universality of his |215| acquirements, which have left no branch within the widerange of science indifferent or unexplored, has connectedhim by friendship with almost all the most celebrated phi-losophers of the age; whilst the polished amenity of hismanners, and that intense desire of acquiring and of spread-ing knowledge, which so peculiarly characterizes his mind,renders him accessible to all strangers, and insures for themthe assistance of his counsel in their scientific pursuits, andthe advantage of being made known to all those who areinterested or occupied in similar inquiries. Professor Lichtenstein, (Director of the Museum of Zoo-logy,) as secretary of the academy, was indefatigable in hisattentions, and most ably seconded the wishes of its distin-guished president. These two gentlemen, assisted by several of the residentsat Berlin, undertook the numerous preliminary arrangementsnecessary for the accommodation of the meeting. On the 18th of September, 1828, there were assembled atBerlin 377 members of the academy, whose names andresidences (in Berlin) were printed in a small pamphlet, andto each name was attached a number, to indicate his seat inthe great concert room, in which the morning meetings tookplace. Each member was also provided with an engravedcard of the hall of meeting, on which the numbers of theseats were printed in black ink, and his own peculiar seatmarked in red ink, so that every person immediately foundhis own place, and knew where to look for any friend whomhe might wish to find. At the hour appointed for the opening of the meeting,the members being assembled, and the galleries and or-chestra being filled by an assemblage of a large part ofthe rank and beauty of the capital, and the side-boxes beingoccupied by several branches of the royal family, and by theforeign ambassadors, the session of the academy was openedby the eloquent address of the president. |216| Speech made at the Opening of the Society of German Natu-ralists and Natural Philosophers at Berlin, the 18th ofSeptember, 1828. By Alexander Von Humboldt. Since through your choice, which does me so much ho-nour, I am permitted to open this meeting, the first dutywhich I have to discharge is one of gratitude. The dis-tinction which has been conferred on him who has never yetbeen able to attend your excellent society, is not the rewardof scientific efforts, or of feeble and persevering attempts todiscover new phenomena, or to draw the light of knowledgefrom the unexplored depths of nature. A finer feeling,however, directed your attention to me. You have assuredme, that while, during an absence of many years, and in adistant quarter of the globe, I was labouring in the samecause with yourselves, I was not a stranger in your thoughts.You have likewise greeted my return home, that, by thesacred tie of gratitude, you might bind me still longer andcloser to our common country. What, however, can the picture of this, our native land-present more agreeable to the mind, than the assembly whichwe receive to-day for the first time within our walls; fromthe banks of the Neckar, the birth-place of Kepler and ofSchiller, to the remotest border of the Baltic plains; fromhence to the mouths of the Rhine, where, under the benefi-cent influence of commerce, the treasuries of exotic naturehave for centuries been collected and investigated, the friendsof nature, inspired with the same zeal, and, urged by thesame passion, flock together to this assembly. Everywhere,where the German language is used, and its peculiar struc-ture affects the spirit and disposition of the people. Fromthe Great European Alps, to the other side of the Weichsel,where, in the country of Copernicus, astronomy rose torenewed splendour; everywhere in the extensive domi-nions of the German nation we attempt to discover the secretoperations of nature, whether in the heavens, or in the |217| deepest problems of mechanics, or in the interior of the earth,or in the finely woven tissues of organic structure. Protected by noble princes, this assembly has annuallyincreased in interest and extent. Every distinction whichdifference of religion or form of government can occasion ishere annulled. Germany manifests itself as it were in itsintellectual unity; and since knowledge of truth and per-formance of duty are the highest object of morality, thatfeeling of unity weakens none of the bonds which the religion,constitution, and laws of our country, have rendered dear toeach of us. Even this emulation in mental struggles hascalled forth (as the glorious history of our country tells us,)the fairest blossoms of humanity, science, and art. The assembly of German naturalists and natural philo-sophers since its last meeting, when it was so hospitablyreceived at Munich, has, through the flattering interest ofneighbouring states and academies, shone with peculiarlustre. Allied nations have renewed the ancient alliancebetween Germany and the ancient Scandinavian North. Such an interest deserves acknowledgment the more, be-cause it unexpectedly increases the mass of facts and opi-nions which are here brought into one common and usefulunion. It also recalls lofty recollections into the mind of thenaturalist. Scarcely half a century has elapsed since Linnéappears, in the boldness of the undertakings which he hasattempted and accomplished, as one of the greatest men ofthe last century. His glory, however bright, has not ren-dered Europe blind to the merits of Scheele and Bergman.The catalogue of these great names is not completed; butlest I shall offend noble modesty, I dare not speak of the lightwhich is still flowing in richest profusion from the North,nor mention the discoveries in the chemical nature of sub-stances, in the numerical relation of their elements, or theeddying streams of electro-magnetic powers.* May thoseexcellent persons, who, deterred neither by perils of sea or
* The philosophers here referred to are Berzelius and Oersted.
|218| land, have hastened to our meeting from Sweden, Norway,Denmark, Holland, England, and Poland, point out the wayto other strangers in succeeding years, so that by turnsevery part of Germany may enjoy the effects of scientificcommunication with the different nations of Europe.
But although I must restrain the expression of my per-sonal feelings in presence of this assembly, I must be per-mitted at least to name the patriarchs of our national glory,who are detained from us by a regard for those lives so dearto their country; —Goethe, whom the great creations ofpoetical fancy have not prevented from penetrating the arcana of nature, and who now in rural solitude mourns for hisprincely friend, as Germany for one of her greatest orna-ments; —Olbers, who has discovered two bodies where hehad already predicted they were to be found; —the greatestanatomists of our age—Soemmering, who, with equal zeal,has investigated the wonders of organic structure, and thespots and faculœ of the sun, (condensations and openingsof the photosphere;) Blumenbach, whose pupil I have thehonour to be, who, by his works and his immortal eloquence,has inspired everywhere a love of comparative anatomy,physiology, and the general history of nature, and who haslaboured diligently for half a century. How could I resistthe temptation to adorn my discourse with names whichposterity will repeat, as we are not favoured with theirpresence? These observations on the literary wealth of our nativecountry, and the progressive developement of our institution,lead us naturally to the obstructions which will arise fromthe increasing number of our fellow-labourers. The chiefobject of this assembly does not consist, as in other societieswhose sphere is more limited, in the mutual interchange oftreatises, or in innumerable memoirs, destined to be printedin some general collection. The principal object of thisSociety is, to bring those personally together who are en-gaged in the same field of science. It is the immediate, andtherefore more obvious interchange of ideas, whether they |219| present themselves as facts, opinions, or doubts. It is thefoundation of friendly connexion which throws light onscience, adds cheerfulness to life, and gives patience andamenity to the manners. In the most flourishing period of ancient Greece, the dis-tinction between words and writing first manifested itselfmost strongly amongst a race, which had raised itself to themost splendid intellectual superiority, and to whose latestdescendants, as preserved from the shipwreck of nations, westill consecrate our most anxious wishes. It was not thedifficulty of interchange of ideas alone, nor the want of Ger-man science, which has spread thought as on wings throughthe world, and insured it a long continuance, that theninduced the friends of philosophy and natural history inMagna Græcia and Asia Minor to wander on long journeys.That ancient race knew the inspiring influence of conver-sation as it extemporaneously, freely, and prudently pene-trates the tissue of scientific opinions and doubts. Thediscovery of the truth without difference of opinion is unat-tainable, because the truth, in its greatest extent, can neverbe recognized by all, and at the same time. Each step,which seems to bring the explorer of nature nearer to hisobject, only carries him to the threshold of new labyrinths.The mass of doubt does not diminish, but spreads like amoving cloud over other and new fields; and whoever hascalled that a golden period, when difference of opinions, or,as some are accustomed to express it, the disputes of thelearned, will be finished, has as imperfect a conception of thewants of science, and of its continued advancement, as aperson who expects that the same opinions in geognosy,chemistry, or physiology, will be maintained for several cen-turies. The founders of this society, with a deep sense of theunity of nature, have combined in the completest manner,all the branches of physical knowledge, and the historical,geometrical, and experimental philosophy. The names ofnatural historian and natural philosopher are here, therefore, |220| nearly synonimous, chained by a terrestrial link to the typeof the lower animals. Man completes the scale of higherorganization. In his physiological and pathological qua-lities, he scarcely presents to us a distinct class of beings.As to what has brought him to this exalted object of phy-sical study, and has raised him to general scientific inves-tigation, belongs principally to this society. Important asit is not to break that link which embraces equally the inves-tigation of organic and inorganic nature, still the increasingties and daily developement of this institution renders itnecessary, besides the general meeting which is destined forthese halls, to have specific meetings for single branches ofscience. For it is only in such contracted circles, — it is onlyamong men whom reciprocity of studies has brought toge-ther, that verbal discussions can take place. Without thissort of communication, would the voluntary association ofmen in search of truth be deprived of an inspiring principle. Among the preparations which are made in this city forthe advancement of the society, attention has been prin-cipally paid to the possibility of such a subdivision intosections. The hope that these preparations will meet withyour approbation, imposes upon me the duty of remindingyou, that, although you had entrusted to two travellers,equally, the duty of making these arrangements, yet it is toone alone, my noble friend, M. Lichtenstein, that the meritof careful precaution and indefatigable activity is due. Outof respect to the scientific spirit which animates the Societyof German Naturalists and Natural Philosophy, and inacknowledgment of the utility of their efforts, governmenthave seconded all our wishes with the greatest cheerfulness. In the vicinity of the place of meeting, which has in thismanner been prepared for our general and special labours,are situated the museums dedicated to anatomy, zoology,oryctognosy, and geology. They exhibit to the naturalist arich mine for observation and critical discussion. Thegreater number of these well-arranged collections haveexisted, like the University of Berlin, scarcely twenty years. |221| The oldest of them, to which the Botanical Garden, (one ofthe richest in Europe) belongs, have during this period notonly been increased, but entirely remodelled. The amuse-ment and instruction derived from such institutions, call toour minds, with deep feelings of gratitude, that they are thework of that great monarch, who modestly and in simplegrandeur, adorns every year this royal city with new trea-sures of nature and art; and what is of still greater valuethan the treasures themselves, — what inspires every Prussianwith youthful strength, and with an enthusiastic love forthe ancient reigning family, —that he graciously attaches tohimself every species of talent, and extends with confidencehis royal protection to the free cultivation of the under-standing. This was followed by a paper on magnetism, by ProfessorOersted; and several other memoirs were then read. The arrival of so many persons of similar pursuit, (for 464members were present,) rendered it convenient to have someordinary, at which those who chose might dine, and intro-duce their friends or families. This had been foreseen, andhis Majesty had condescended to allow the immense build-ing used for the exercise of his troops, to be employed forthis purpose. One-third of it was floored on the occasion,and tables were arranged, at which, on one occasion, 850persons sat down to dinner. On the evening of the firstday, M. de Humboldt gave a large soirée in the concertrooms attached to the theatre. About 1200 persons assem-bled on this occasion, and his Majesty the King of Prussiahonoured with his presence the fête of his illustrious cham-berlain. The nobility of the country, foreign princes, andforeign ambassadors, were present. It was gratifying toobserve the princes of the blood mingling with the culti-vators of science, and to see the heir-apparent to the throne,during the course of the evening, engaged in conversationwith those most celebrated for their talents, of his own, orof other countries. |222| Nor were the minor arrangements of the evening beneaththe consideration of the President. The words of the musicselected for the concert, were printed and distributed to thevisitors. The names of the most illustrious philosopherswhich Germany had produced, were inscribed in letters ofgold 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 scientificannals; and proud, as well she may be, of having fosteredand brought to maturity the genius of the first Herschel, shehas reaped an ample reward in being able to claim as entirelyher own, the inheritor of his talents and his name. The six succeeding days were occupied, in the morning, bya meeting of the academy, at which papers of general interestwere read. In the afternoon, through the arrangement ofM. de Humboldt and M. Lichtenstein, various rooms wereappropriated for different sections of the academy. In one,the chemical philosophers attended to some chemical me-moir, whilst the botanists assembled in another room, thephysiologists in a third, and the natural philosophers in afourth. Each attended to the reading of papers connectedwith their several sciences. Thus every member was atliberty to choose that section in which he felt most interestat the moment, and he had at all times power of access tothe others. The evenings were generally spent at someof the soirées of the savans, resident at Berlin, whose hos-pitality and attentions to their learned brethren of othercountries were unbounded. During the unoccupied hoursof the morning, the collections of natural history, which arerapidly rising into importance, were open to examination;and the various professors and directors who assisted thestranger in his inquiries, left him equally gratified by theknowledge and urbanity of those who so kindly aided him. A map of Europe was printed, on which those towns onlyappeared which had sent representatives to this scientificcongress; and the numbers sent by different kingdomsappeared by the following table, which was attached to it: — |223|
Russia 1 Bavaria 12
Austria 0 Hanover 5
England 1 Saxony 21
Holland 2 Wirtemburg 12
Denmark 7 Sweden 13
France 1 Naples 1
Sardina 0 Poland 3
Prussia 95 German States 43
——
217
Berlin 172
——
Total 389
——
The proportion in which the cultivators of differentsciences appeared, was not easy to ascertain, because therewere few amongst the more eminent who had not added tomore than one branch of human knowledge. The followingtable, though not professing to be very accurate, will afford,perhaps, a tolerably fair view: —
Geometers 11 Anatomy 12
Astronomers 5 Zoology 14
Natural Philosophers 23 Natural History 8
39 Botany 35
Mines 5 57
Mineralogy 16 Physicians 175
Geology 9 Amateurs 9
30 Various 33
Chemistry 18 ——
Geography 8 381
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 fortheir scientific discoveries in the past and present age.