rt room； in which the morning meetings took place。 Each member was also provided with an engraved card of the hall of meeting； on which the numbers of the seats were printed in black ink； and his own peculiar seat marked in red ink； so that every person immediately found his own place； and knew where to look for any friend whom he might wish to find。
At the hour appointed for the opening of the meeting； the members being assembled； and the galleries and orchestra being filled by an assemblage of a large part of the rank and beauty of the capital； and the side…boxes being occupied by several branches of the royal family； and by the foreign ambassadors； the session of the academy was opened by the eloquent address of the president。
SPEECH made at the Opening of the Society of German Naturalists and Natural Philosophers at Berlin； the 18th of September； 1828。 … By ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT。
Since through your choice； which does me so much honour； I am permitted to open this meeting； the first duty which I have to discharge is one of gratitude。 The distinction which has been conferred on him who has never yet been able to attend your excellent society； is not the reward of scientific efforts； or of feeble and persevering attempts to discover new phenomena； or to draw the light of knowledge from the unexplored depths of nature。 A finer feeling； however； directed your attention to me。 You have assured me； that while； during an absence of many years； and in a distant quarter of the globe； I was labouring in the same cause with yourselves； I was not a stranger in your thoughts。 You have likewise greeted my return home； that； by the sacred tie of gratitude； you might bind me still longer and closer to our common country。
What； however； can the picture of this； our native land； present more agreeable to the mind； than the assembly which we receive to…day for the first time within our walls； from the banks of the Neckar； the birth…place of Kepler and of Schiller； to the remotest border of the Baltic plains； from hence to the mouths of the Rhine； where； under the beneficent influence of commerce； the treasuries of exotic nature have for centuries been collected and investigated； the friends of nature； inspired with the same zeal； and； urged by the same passion； flock together to this assembly。 Everywhere； where the German language is used； and its peculiar structure affects the spirit and disposition of the people。 From the Great European Alps； to the other side of the Weichsel； where； in the country of Copernicus； astronomy rose to renewed splendour； everywhere in the extensive dominions of the German nation we attempt to discover the secret operations of nature； whether in the heavens； or in the 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 annually increased in interest and extent。 Every distinction which difference of religion or form of government can occasion is here annulled。 Germany manifests itself as it were in its intellectual unity； and since knowledge of truth and performance of duty are the highest object of morality； that feeling of unity weakens none of the bonds which the religion； constitution； and laws of our country； have rendered dear to each of us。 Even this emulation in mental struggles has called 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 philosophers since its last meeting； when it was so hospitably received at Munich； has； through the flattering interest of neighbouring states and academies； shone with peculiar lustre。 Allied nations have renewed the ancient alliance between Germany and the ancient Scandinavian North。
Such an interest deserves acknowledgment the more； because it unexpectedly increases the mass of facts and opinions which are here brought into one common and useful union。 It also recalls lofty recollections into the mind of the naturalist。 Scarcely half a century has elapsed since Linne appears； in the boldness of the undertakings which he has attempted and accomplished； as one of the greatest men of the last century。 His glory； however bright； has not rendered Europe blind to the merits of Scheele and Bergman。 The catalogue of these great names is not completed； but lest I shall offend noble modesty； I dare not speak of the light which is still flowing in richest profusion from the North； nor mention the discoveries in the chemical nature of substances； in the numerical relation of their elements； or the eddying streams of electro…magnetic powers。 ＇The philosophers here referred to are Berzelius and Oersted。＇ May those excellent persons； who； deterred neither by perils of sea or land； have hastened to our meeting from Sweden； Norway； Denmark； Holland； England； and Poland； point our the way to other strangers in succeeding years； so that by turns every part of Germany may enjoy the effects of scientific communication with the different nations of Europe。
But although I must restrain the expression of my personal feelings in presence of this assembly； I must be permitted at least to name the patriarchs of our national glory； who are detained from us by a regard for those lives so dear to their country；Goethe； whom the great creations of poetical fancy have not prevented from penetrating the ARCANA of nature； and who now in rural solitude mourns for his princely friend； as Germany for one of her greatest ornaments；Olbers； who has discovered two bodies where he had already predicted they were to be found；the greatest anatomists of our ageSoemmering； who； with equal zeal； has investigated the wonders of organic structure； and the spots and FACULAE of the sun； （condensations and openings of the photosphere；） Blumenbach； whose pupil I have the honour 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 has laboured diligently for half a century。 How could I resist the temptation to adorn my discourse with names which posterity will repeat； as we are not favoured with their presence？
These observations on the literary wealth of our native country； and the progressive developement of our institution； lead us naturally to the obstructions which will arise from the increasing number of our fellow…labourers； The chief object of this assembly does not consist； as in other societies whose sphere is more limited； in the mutual interchange of treatises； or in innumerable memoirs； destined to be printed in some general collection。 The principal object of this Society is； to bring those personally together who are engaged in the same field of science。 It is the immediate； and therefore more obvious interchange of ideas； whether they present themselves as facts； opinions； or doubts。 It is the foundation of friendly connexion which throws light on science； adds cheerfulness to life； and gives patience and amenity to the manners。
In the most flourishing period of ancient Greece； the distinction between words and writing first manifested itself most strongly amongst a race； which had raised itself to the most splendid intellectual superiority； and to whose latest descendants； as preserved from the shipwreck of nations； we still consecrate our most anxious wishes。 It was not the difficulty of interchange of ideas alone； nor the want of German science； which has spread thought as on wings through the world； and insured it a long continuance； that then induced the friends of philosophy and natural history in Magna Graecia and Asia Minor to wander on long journeys。 That ancient race knew the inspiring influence of conversation as it extemporaneously； freely； and prudently penetrates the tissue of scientific opinions and doubts。 The discovery of the truth without difference of opinion is unattainable； because the truth； in its greatest extent； can never be recognized by all； and at the same time。 Each step； which seems to bring the explorer of nature nearer to his object； only carries him to the threshold of new labyrinths。 The mass of doubt does not diminish； but spreads like a moving cloud over other and new fields； and whoever has called that a golden period； when difference of opinions； or； as some are accustomed to express it； the disputes of the learned； will be finished； has as imperfect a conception of the wants of science； and of its continued advancement； as a person who expects that the same opinions in geognosy； chemistry； or physiology； will be maintained for several centuries。
The founders of this society； with a deep sense of the unity of nature； have combined in the completest manner； all the branches of physical knowledge； and the historical； geometrical； and experimental philosophy。 The names of natural historian and natural philosopher are here； therefore； nearly synonimous； chained by a terrestrial link to the type of the lower animals。 Man completes the scale of higher organization。 In his physiological and pathological qualities； he scarcely presents to us a distinct class of beings。 As to what has brought him to this exalted object of physical study； and has raised him to general scientific investigation； belongs principally to this society。 Important as it is not to break that link which embraces equally the investigation of organic and inorganic nature； still the increasing ties and daily developement of this institution renders it necessary； besides the general meeting which is destined for these halls； to have specific meetings for single branches of science。 For it is only in such contracted circles； it is only among men whom reciprocity of studies has brought together； that verbal discussions can take place。 Without this sort of communication； would the voluntary association of men in search of truth be deprived of an inspiring principle。
Among the preparations which are made in this city for the advancement of the society； attention has been principally paid to the possibility of such a subdivision into sections。 The hope that these preparations will meet with your approbation； imposes upon me the duty of reminding