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

,ud.. nm large continens or fand--as In ne south
of France. Central Asia, in North and South Amer
lea, &c. They, then, have some governing princi-
pie, which connects them with the earth. Some
have supposed them to be oflunar 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 some peculiar form, as plausible as any
other.
Baron Humboldt is one of the most remarkable
men now living. With knowledge, both profound
and universal, he unites a wonderful facility for
both learning and speaking languages. He Is, In
other words, universal lving-speakng dictionary
of languages, as well as liying-moving encyclope-
da 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 hatcity. Among 9TH
er Americans then in the French capital, was gem
tleman, 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.
ny, to catch the idioms of the language; and had
arrived in France TO spend year in perfectng him.
self in that language. AT the soirse they found
Baron Humboldt, who, on being introduced to the
professor, and hearing he had been in Germany to
study tho language, addressed him in that tongue,
when the professor was struck dumb, and could not
utter syllable. He had been studying French
last, and hence his embarrassment; as It 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 was no modern language
in any considerable use that the baron could not
speak with SO much fuency and ease as to be mis-
taken for a native of the country the language OF
which he used. To modern languages, he united a
perfect knowledge Of those Of the ancients. He
could speak Greek and Latin as fuently as French,
English or German We still find him. at an ad-
vanced age, devoted TO science and learning, with
fame as wide the civilized world, while honored
and respected by kings and mobiles, as well as by
mankind at large.
Few men possess such a mind, or attain such a
position during life.
City, haLepast p. m.--Cotton exhibits no materi-
al change since last week. The market was pre-
pared for the present news by the steamer, which il
no worse, if as bad, as was anticipated.
Flour declined to-day l2i cents per barrel. The
market opened at IS 62l; but, before the close of
Change, purchases could have been made at from
As 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.
red-packet-ship Quebec, for London; Ro-
chester for Liverpool ship Great Britain, foE 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-Prince, and schooner John Kendall, from
Madeira.
The packet-ship Rochester sails tomorrow for
Liverpool. The packet-ship Yorkshire arrived in
Liverpool the day the steamer left, having sailed
hence on the 18th ult which equal to the speed
of the Massachusetts, with sails and steam COM
bined.
Yours, very truly,