The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-04-08
HUMBOLDT.
mountains.

HUMBOLDT.
The Providence Journal contains long and
interesting letter from Berlin in Prussia After
speaking OF the University of Frederick William,
celebrated the first literary institution in the
world as respects the talents and learning of its
professors, it gives the following notice of the
celebrated traveller and scholar, Alexander Won
Humboldt:
| might proceed in this manner to almost an
indefinite extent, enumerating the names of the
distinguished scholars of Berlin; for the present
King seems to possess the peculiar faculty of
drawing to his capital all descriptions of talent,
justly thinking, that though despot he NAV
shine hereafter IN history, from the reflected in
tellectuai spendor with which he has SURF ounded
his person and his throne But there is one
name which, though not connected with the
University, cannot be passed over, when we are
mentioning the great and learned OF Berlin,-Al-
exander Won Humboldt, the traveller, the author,
the philosopher, the statesman. This remarkable
man is now in his 72d year, but he is still hale
and active, and his blue eye sparkles as brightly
as when he stood upon the heights of the Andes
and travefsed the steppes of Siberia. Born to a
noble name and hereditary wealth, he resolved
to devote himself to intellectual pursuits. He
chose the dangerous and fahguing path of sci
entihc traveller. To behold with his own ewes
the organism of the world, to Judge by patient,
occuar investigation, of the philosophy of crea-
ton, this was his task. In the accomplishment
of this object, he made voyages and journeys of
years duration, and some Of the most difficult
and unfrequented portions of Europe, Asia, and
America were trodden by his footsteps Prof.
Ritter remarked few evenings since in his lee
ture, that America had been twice discovered,
actually, effectively, by Christopher Columbus,
scientifically by Alexander Won Humboldt Be-
sides this, Humbold is one of the most voluninous
living authors, and has long been the chief conf.
dant, and most influential counsellor OF the Prus-
sian monarch. All the honors which ROYALTY
could bestow have been heaped upon him, and
but few weeks since, he received, what is gen
orally considered the browning honor, viz. the
Order of the Black Eagle, which heretofore, has
been almost exclusively confined 10 members Of
royal houses. When young he was exceedingly
wealthy, but he has expended immense sums in
travel, and at present, his books, OF which Cos
mos is the last. whose second volume is now
quite ready for the press, and which in itself
forms new epoch in the philosophy of natural
science. constitute the principal source of his in
come Rich, however, in a nobIer sense of the
word, in the honor and respect Of mankind, in
the consciousness Of life devoted successfully TO
great and high pursuits, he stands kind OF sci.
enthc patriarch, the Nestor of Learning and let
ters, one OF the cheest OF those, who next to the
teachers OF true righteousness merit most the
gratitude of men.
-"Sceing ignorance is the Il God,
Knowledge the wing wherein fly t. Heaven"
His correspondence is immense, and though
still pursuing his own profound investia atoms
nothing which concerns learning and true sci
ence al home or abroad, escapes his vigiaut eve.
lately saw letter from him, in which he
speaks Of our own Prescott in terms OF unquali.
he'd praise, calling him, without reservation, one
OF the FIRST living historians. All who know this
truly great man, testify to the simplicity of his
life, the urbanity of his manners, and the good
ness of his heart Prussia is often called poor
kingdom, but when she can boast of such a man
as Alexander Won Humboldt, and ofsuch men as
those / have previously named wherein does her
poverty consist Would that all nations. whils
they neglected not the useful and honorable
means OF prosperity, might place still more value
upon those purer and profounder resources of in
tellectual wealth, which yield their immortal
revenues at all seasons, and under all circum-
stances, without the warmth of the sun or the
moistening of the rain. without the imposition OF
taxes or the protection Of tariffs.
MILLERIsM.-A suit has been commenced in
the u. g. Commissioners Court, in Boston for the
recovery OF certain property alleged to have been
conveyed by tho plaintiff TO the defendant for an
inadequate consideration. The parties are E. M.
Hale VS.. +. Nj Hale Jr., both residing in Hayer.
hill The father had embraced the doctrines Of
"Millerism," so called, and, being persuaded that
1t would be sinful to be found with property IN his
possession, at the coming Of Christ to destroy the
world he sold, to his son and partner in business
property, worth, as is alleged, $45, 900, for the
sum of $4,000 The case has been referred to
John M. Williams, Simon Greenleaf, and William
Babes, of Taunton, and was last week being heard
before said referees, in the Common Pleas Court
room Rufus Choate and George Minot for the
plE B. r. Curtis, B. Rand, and A. II. Fiske, fol
the defdt.