Humboldt's life and character : an address before the Linnaean Association of Pennsylvania College, delivered at the annual commencement, September 14, 1859 / by Alfred Stillé.

  • Stillé, Alfred, 1813-1900.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Humboldt's life and character : an address before the Linnaean Association of Pennsylvania College, delivered at the annual commencement, September 14, 1859 / by Alfred Stillé. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    foundations of the natural sciences by a detailed de- scription and classification of animals and plants, and by furnishing the earliest notions of the constitution of our globe which were derived from an actual survey of its physical condition and changes. It matters not that the one did little more than classify and confer titles upon the hitherto nameless vegetable tribes, and that the .other drew a picture of animated nature in which the form as well as the coloring was often the work of genius and fancy rather than a transcript of reality. But what more could have been expected of the natural sciences than that in their infancy they should receive names, and before their matu- rity should indulge in speculations and unfounded conclusions which befit an age inspired by enthusiasm rather than one guided by the lessons of experience \ But the impulse to scientific investigation had been given; all Christendom was eager to read the volume which had been always lying open before the eyes of men, but which hitherto they had refused to see, or which had purposely been veiled from their sight. While licentiousness was corrupting the court, wis- dom was inspiring the hearts of the people. Ileal and solid knowledge, knowledge of things, of causes, and effects, and modes of action, had thrust aside the elegant frippery of an emasculated literature, and the insolence that thought to answer a scientific question with a witticism. Verily nations were now dancing upon a volcano whose mutterings had been scoffed at or passed unheeded, but which, at last, with a ter-