He was advised by his doctor to spend time in Italy where the climate would help him recover. However, Jacobi was not a wealthy man and Dirichlet, after visiting Jacobi and discovering his plight, wrote to Alexander von Humboldt asking him to help obtain some financial assistance for Jacobi from Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Dirichlet then made a request for assistance from Friedrich Wilhelm IV, supported strongly by Alexander von Humboldt, which was successful.
Siya ay ipinapayo sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga doktor upang magpalipas ng oras sa Italya kung saan ang klima ay makatutulong sa kanya makuha. Gayunman, Jacobi ay hindi yumaman ng isang tao at Dirichlet, pagkatapos ng pagbisita sa Jacobi at discovering kanyang kalagayan, wrote sa Alexander von Humboldt humihingi ng tulong sa kanya upang makakuha ng ilang pinansiyal na tulong para sa Jacobi mula sa Wilhelm Friedrich IV. Dirichlet pagkatapos ay ginawa ng isang kahilingan para sa tulong mula sa Friedrich Wilhelm IV, suportado Matindi by Alexander von Humboldt, na kung saan ay matagumpay.