The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-09 00:00:00

ALEXANDER VON B UMBOLDT.

Alexander von Humboldt is dead. When Sir
Robert Peel died the English nation testified its
appreciation of his services to his country by an un—
mistakeable mourning. Every ship in the Thames
lowered its flag, every shop put up its shutters.
This, however, simply concerned England, and the
mark of esteem to the great departed was restricted
to one country. The same might be said of Wel-
lington. To write a notice of Humboldt is no easy
task. His canvas was the universe, and he used
his pencil with a master hand. His mind grasped
with iron strength everything it met, and, instead
of being woakened by the immensity it was brought
in contact with, its appetite grew with what it fed
upon. To English readers Humboldt is best
known by his latest work, " Kosmos," a work which
alone would suffice to render his name immortal.
But to the cosmopolitan reader Humboldt is better
known. His merits are of such transcendant qua-

14 that praise is out of place.
It may, however, be of interest to some of our
readers to give a brief sketch of this European cele-
brity. Alexander von Humboldt was born at Berlin
on the 14th of September. 1769. He was an under-
graduate at Gottingen, which university be left for
Frankfort-on-the-Oder. Geography and Geology
were his chief studies. His intelligence and zeal
were not overlooked by the Government. In 1795
he was sent by the Prussian Government to study
the nature of the volcanic eruptions of Vesuvius.
Humboldt's mind took a wider range. He aspired
to investigate regions unknown. Africa was his
object. He went to Marseilles and joined Bonpland,
who was on the point of starting on a similar mis-
sion, with the intention of accompanying him. This
plan failed, but through the interest of Baron
Forell, the Saxon Ambassador, Humboldt obtained
permission and. authority to make a scientific tour
of Spanish America. During 18 months Humboldt
examined geologically and geographically every
part of Venezuela, the Orinoco, and the Rio
Negro. He afterwards visited Bogota, the Cor-
dilleras, and Quito. At this latter place Humboldt,
at great personal risk, investigated the volcaniC
mountains. He spent some time at Lima. In
August, 1804, Humboldt lauded at Havre, rich in
experience, and with an invaluable collection of
specimens of geological and botanical interest.
Humboldt fixed his residence at Paris, taking an
occasional trip to London ; but Prussia could not
spare so valuable a man, and the King requested
Humboldt to return. The King made him a Privy
Councillor, and offered him various diplomatic mis-
sions. Mountains, not men, were Humboldt's object.
He wished to explose the Andes and the Himalayas,
to make a comparison of their respective dimensions.
This plan failed. He, however, succeded in another.
He started for Siberia, and then visited the chief
cities of Russia. There is not one branch of science 1
to which Humboldt has not contributed something
—nay, much. The powers of his mind seemed to
increase as they produced. The friend of Kings,
he was a Liberal. He took a large view of the
world in a political sense while investigating with
the utmost minuteness the conformation of some
unknown substance. Doubtless we shall shortly
receive from some German Pen a worthier notice of
one of Germany's greatest celebrities.—Times.

THE ACCIDENT ON THE CORNWALL
RAILWAY.

PLYMOUTH, SATURDAY.
An inspection of the scene of the unfortunate accident
which occurred on Friday evening on the eastern side of
the Grove Lake viaduct, which crosses a small inlet from
the river Lyuher, gives no clue to the caul©
perma-
nent way is straight and level, and there s. noTthaeppear tohave been anything to turn the engine from its proper course
unless some obstruction was maliciously placed on the rails.
The train, consisting of a first-class carriage between two
second class, with a truck behind, started from Plymouth at
7.25 p.m. with about 3Oor 40 passengers, chiefly for St. Ger-
mans, and having stopped the usual time at the Devonport
and Saltash stationsloo yards of Grove ,
went Lake
the
into Cornwall. When within
engine got off the line, and
proceeding a little distance on the viaduct, which is built of
wood, dashed against and carried away the north parapet
taking with it the eading second-class carriage and the
first-class carriage. The engine crossed the stream about
30 feet below, and, turning upside down, was imbedded in
the mud, which must have instantly suffocated the driver
(Biscombe) and the stoker (Hannaford). It was about
half flood at the time. The second-class carriage, which
had but few passengers, followed the engine, and remained
in the mud and water with the wheels down. The guard,
Hosken, might possibly have escaped had not the first-class
carriage fallen on the roof of his compartment and deprived
him of life instantaneously by a fearful blow on the head.
The first-class Carriage then turned on its back. The male
passengers, among whom was Mr. Glubb, of Liskeard,
saved themselves. Mr. Matthews, the chief accountant of the
line, had, however, some difficulty, as his end of the car-
riage was nearly immersed. He escaped with his arm cut and
knee bruised. One elderly lady, finding herself uninjured,
quietly requested that the other passengers should be res-
cued first. By the strenuous efforts of Paddon, the second
guard, the other second-class carriage, which contained
about 20 passengers (the major portion in the train), was,
with the truck, saved. he
When he observed that the engine was ".inall'ing'"
pressed down the break with so much force that, aided pro-
bably by the concussion of the engine against the parapet,
the coupling iron broke. The carriage was, however, off
the rails, and the leading wheel withi
an six inches of the
edge of the viaduct, so that the escape was very narrow
one. The truck was also off the rails, but on the line. Pad-
don, who was the only official left alive, appears to have
acted with great self-possession and energy. He went fear-
lessly down the embankment to the disabled carriages, and,
aided nobly, by Spencer, a St. Germans Waterman, and
some others, rescued the terrified passengers. M. Clever
ton, town-clerk of Saltash, was soon present wirth stimu-
lants. Besides those recorded, the only ascertained casual-
ties are three women, who were conveyed to Orchard Farm
where they were kindly treated ; one left the same even-
ing, the others the next morning ; a man, with a bruised
face, who walked on to St. Germans, and a little girl, whose
arm was injured.
The traffic will be interrupted fora_. day or two The
trains continue to run as usual between Liskeard and Truro.
The bodies of the men are at St. Germans, about a mile
from Grove Lake, where an inquest will be held on Mon-
day. The viaduct is 116 feet long and 28 feet deep.