GENERAL INTRODUCTION
viously misunderstood, or the description of some new element or compound. The discoveries made by Scheele and Berzelius in the domain of chemistry are most important, but too numerous to mention in this paper. Berzelius also devoted himself to mineralogy and published his “Treatise on the Blow Pipe,” and he set up for himself a regularly graduated system of minerals, the value of which was felt to be so great that the Royal Society of London voted him its gold medal for it. Scheele unfortunately died at only 54 years of age, but his works, many of which are regarded as the most important in the whole field of chemical literature, appeared after his death in French, German and Latin editions. In Linné, Scheele, Berzelius and in the naturalist and archæologist, Sven Nilsson, Sweden touched the zenith of scientific fame.
Before leaving Sweden, we may be permitted to mention N. A. E. Nordenskjold, who is famous for his various Arctic expeditions; and who, with his Vega accomplished the work so often attempted by many brave explorers, the discovery and navigation of a northeast passage by sea from North Cape, the extreme northwest point of Europe, to the extreme notheastern point of Asia,—that is a passage by sea from the north Atlantic ocean eastward to the north Pacific ocean. Nordenskjold has the honor of being the first man to double Cape Cheljuskin, the northern point of the continent, and by his voyage he made many new and valuable additions to our geographical knowledge of the Arctic regions. His signal triumph well deserves the most distinguished marks of honor showered upon him during his homeward journey.
Entering the domain of Norway, we at once meet the brilliant name of the immortal mathemetician, Henrik Abel. I have observed that the great mathemetician of our time can scarcely open their mouths wide enough when they want to say A—bel. He unfortunately died too young, but his great fame keeps on increasing. He is justly designated as one of the greatest geniuses ever born in the domain of exact science, and the solution of problems made by the
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