Development of the physical powers formed an essential part of the program of the Giessen “Blacks,” just as in the case of the _Burschenschaften_ at other universities. In the summer of 1816 a gymnastic society was formed, enrolling boys in the secondary school, young merchants and others, as well as university students. Here again the leadership fell to Follen, who is described as an excellent gymnast, a skilful hand with the broadsword, and a powerful swimmer. The “Deutsche Turnkunst” of 1816 was the guide in Giessen, as elsewhere, and Jahn’s rules formed the basis of order during the exercises. National anniversaries were celebrated, a _Turnfest_ was held at the end of July, 1818, excursions were organized, and trips were taken with companions from Darmstadt, Heidelberg, and other places. Upon leaving Giessen students transferred their membership to _Turnvereine_ in the new home, or sought to form such societies where they did not already exist. The efforts of Karl Völker at Tübingen have already been mentioned (p. 98) in describing Jahn’s life and work. Upon completing his courses in jurisprudence Follen remained at the University as _Privat-docent_, studying at the same time the practice of law in his father’s court. Early in the fall of 1818 he undertook the cause of several hundred communities in the province of Upper Hesse which desired to remonstrate against a government measure directed against the last remnant of their political independence, and drew up a petition to the Grand Duke in their behalf. It was printed and widely circulated, and aroused public opinion to such a pitch that the obnoxious measure was repealed; but it also brought upon its author such unrelenting hatred on the part of the influential men whose selfish plans were thereby thwarted that any thought of a further career in his home city became impossible. He therefore accepted an invitation from Professor Fries to lecture on the Pandects as _Privat-docent_ in the University of Jena, and left Giessen in October of 1818.[192]