Meeting of the cultivators of natural science and medicine at Hamburgh, in September 1830 / [Jas. F.W. Johnston].

  • Johnston, Jas. F. W. (James Finlay Weir), 1796-1855
Date:
[1831]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Meeting of the cultivators of natural science and medicine at Hamburgh, in September 1830 / [Jas. F.W. Johnston]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nists, an amiable and enthusiastic race of men, first set the example. Thus time was gained ; men of like tastes and pur¬ suits brought more frequently and more closely together ; and every one spared the infliction of dissertations and discussions upon the thousand and one subjects in which he felt no earthly interest; for, though all cultivators of natural science rejoice in the advancement, and admire those who successfully culti¬ vate any one department, yet each one has his own favourite branch or branches, beyond which he has little anxiety to roam, and unconnected with which discussions, however learn¬ ed, are often only tiresome. It was a judicious plan, then, to make the separation into sections, and thus to permit the shell and fly men to discuss the mysteries of their several ologies, without scandalizing the more grave and weighty pursuits of medicine and oryctognosy. This practice, begun at Munich, assumed a more extended and definite form at Berlin, and was finally arranged and consolidated at Heidelberg. Berlin gave a powerful impulse to the rising distinction of the Deutscher Naturforscher Versammlung. Every thing was done by the Prussian government, and under the immediate superintendence of the distinguished president, Baron Hum¬ boldt, for the convenience and accommodation of the strangers ; and arrangements were there first entered into by which the comfort of those from a distance was materially increased. Purses, even, as well as persons were attended to ; and as liv¬ ing in hotels was considered too expensive for many, who, nevertheless, in a strange place, would be unable to provide themselves with private lodgings, several hundreds of the lat¬ ter were secured, chiefly in situations which gave convenient access to the places of meeting; and thus, the most complete strangers found themselves at once economically and conveni¬ ently situated. Fetes and excursions also were got up, and concerts given, which the royal family, and even the king him¬ self, graced with his presence; while poetry and music lent their aid to welcome and eulogize the votaries of science. The celebrated Humboldt presided, and Lichtenstein, the well known zoologist and South African traveller, held the office of secretary. The number of strangers who came from various parts of Germany and the northern countries, was 269 and