The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-22

tudes, on large continents of and--as 10 the south
of France, Central Asia, in North and South Amer
lea, &c. They, then, have some governing princl-
pie, which connects them with the earth. Some
have supposed them to be of lunar volcanic origin
Without knowing anything OF the subject beyond
the facts stated think the theory that their primary
formation arises from the elements which surround
the earth in peculiar form, plausible as any
other.
Baron Humboldt is one of the most remarkable
men now living. With knowledge both profound
and UNIVERSAL he unites wonderful facility for
both learning and speaking languages. He is, in
other words, universal hving-speakng dictionary
Of languages, as well as liyng-moving encyclopa-
dia of knowledge.
An intelligent friend of mine, who spent some
time in Paris, told me that he became acquainted
with the baron then resident in thatcity. Among 9th
err Americans then in the French capital, was gen
tleman, a professor Of modern languages In one OF
the New England colleges AT a soiree given by a
member of the French Academy, our friend, with
the professor, attended by invitation The profess
sor had gone to Europe TO spend year in Germa.
n.y. TO catch the idioms of the language; and had
arrived in France to spend year in periecting him
self in that language. At the soiree they found
Baron Humboldt, who, on being introduced to the
professor, and hearing he had been in Germany to
study the language addressed him in that tongue,
when the professor struck dumb and could not
utter a syllable. He had been studying French
last and hence his embarrassment; II is well
known to be the fact, however curious, that one
language for the time being, pushes out another
The baron then addressed him in French, when
conversation proceeded without difficulty.
My friend stated there modern language
in any considerable use that the baron could not
speak with so much 1uency and ease to be mis-
taken for native of the country the language of
which he used. To modern languages, he united
perfect knowledge of those of the ancients. He
could speak Greek and Latin as huently as French
English, or German. We still find him, at an ad-
yanced age devoted to science and learning, with
fame as wide as the civilized world, while honored
and respected by kings and mobiles, as well as by
mankind at large.
Few men possess such mind, or attain such a
position during life.
City, halfpast p. m.--Cotton exhibits no materi-
al change since last week. The market was pre-
pared for the present news by the steamer which is
no worse, if as bad, was anticipated.
market opened at IS 62s; but, before the close of
Change, purchases could have been made at from
IS so to IS 56.. The foreign accounts are, there
FORE less favorable for this article than were ex-
pected.
In ashes, nothing is doing.
The stock market is heavy to-day
Cleared-packet-ship Quebec, for London; Ro-
chester, for Liverpool; ship Great Britain, for Can
ton; Media for Amsterdam.
Arrived-packetship Samuel Hicks; barque Ken
nebec, AZ days from st. Ubes, % days from Ma
deira; also, one barque from Bremen, one brig from
Port-au-P Prince, and schooner John Kendall from
Madeira.
The packet-ship Rochester sails tomorrow for
Liverpool The packet-shp Yorkshire arrived in
Liverpool the day the steamer left, having sailed
hence on tho 10Th ult; which was equal to the speed
of the Massachusetts, with sails and steam COM
bned.
Yours, very truly,