The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-15
CITY OF WASHINGTON SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER Is Is
From the Frankfort Germany Journal,
Alexander Won Humboldt.


j From Frankfort Germany Journal
| Alexander Won Humboldt.
"What man - exclaimed Goethe once, after receiving
a visit from Humboldt snow Of no man to compare
him to ne resembles source OF eyer.gushlng sweet
waters he knows everything, and knows thoroughly
what he does know"
The poet was right Alexander Won Humboldt who
completed his S0h year the 18th of September of this
year. with all the undminshed vgor of his mind, and
with body still hale, is of the greatest and most
comprehensive minds that have lourshed in any age,
been most appostely called the Napoleon of natural
science in order to convey the idea that he stands forth
without compare from amongst ordinary mortas.
There have been, perhaps, few men SO entirely ioru
nate as he has been for nature endowed him with a
sound body and gigantic well sane mind. II is
seldom that European from northern cline can rove
with IMMUNITY among palm trees; but on Humboldt
neither the heat OF the tropics the icy cold OF the
Ural and Alta could exert any baneu influence. From
an early period he was independent as to fortunes; and
there was adverse circumstance to prevent him from
giving himself TO the impulse OF his genius Even as
youth he enjoyed the society OF the wisest and best in
Germany. 70 calm perspicuity of understanding he
unes wonderful acuieness Of penetration and his first
impression is unerring In powers of combination be
has seldom been eqqalled; and besides his colossal
full as il is rapid, his whole intellect is infused with
a rich poetic vein and again, so vivid fancy is all
his own, his taste is so exquisite and fine, that he
throws the charm OF attraction the very dryest
subject he may happen to treat, Geographers unani
mously recognise him their master, historians CRATE
fully confess that the race is deeply indebted to him.
|
illumine what had been hitherto obscure for them in
antiquity, Hardly is there one sing field of scientific
inquiry that Humboldt has not enrched he has even
lghtened the fathers Of the church their athletic side
The Spaniards, as well we Germans-so likewise the
French and the Englsh-enro this wonderful man
among their classic stysts for in addition TO the most
accurate Latin, Humboldt writes Spanish, English, q
and French with skill precision, and force, his own
native language When he gave lectures thirty years
ago in Paris, the French willingly admitted that few OF
their great counymen up to him in luxuriance,
correctness, and clearness. .
This man, in the penitude of his understanding and
with the clearest Consciousness has lived with and
through period OF transition such the world has
since the earliest centuries Of Christendom Born
in the same year with Napoleon, he knew the Great
Frederick his youth coeva with the North Amerl
can contest for liberty he admired the great Washing,
ton the drama OF the French revolution that convulsed
the world and that shed torrents of blood, he and
remotely pass before him. with its martial ieats and
its giants But while the German empire OF thousand
years umbling into ruin, and the German land was
becoming the prey OF the potent conqueror, Humboldt
wandering through the table lands of the Andes or
the low plains near the Onnoco and Ronegro; he was
not an immediate witness OF the disasters his coun-
trymen bewailed at Ulm or Jena During the long
time OF the restoration, he employed his leisure in
the composition OF those literary works that will re-
main as patterns in all ages for the natural SCI
ences for future research in the antiquities OF America
and for every branch of geography. He-the man OF
fourscore years-who has SO stirred men by the living
word, and so geniay promoted study has seen, TOO in
the evening OF his infinitely rich lie how the German
people still struggle Tor new contormatlon-ior unity
and freedom So enlightened SOUL so clear thinker,
| head incapable oil all oW-mnueunesS must De
devoid of prejudice must be ayoraby inclined, from the
depths OF that SOUL 10 the cause OF freedom and progress
Yet for any immediate political activity his nature has
been as little disposed Goethes Humboldt has
ever been content with employing his influence preera
bly, in behalf OF science which owes an INFINITE deot oil
/ acknowledgment to him.
last 80 years with whom he had not personal relations
anything in him, in addition to the immense compIe
OF his requirements, could raise our asonlsh
men II would be his almost unparalleled industry and
that wonderful activity that distinguishes this great man.
He has enlarged the science OF navigation, especially
richng the history of naucs Geology, zoology, botany,
less indebted TO him than the collective physical
sciences, particularly meeorology, magnetism-that
which treats of the distribution Of heat the
earth-geography, agriculture, and trade Almost IN
every field this, the history of nations, and political his
tory, lastly statistics, German gigantic mind has formed
new paths OF exploration.
When young man OF twenty after he had completed
his university studies in Gottingen and al Frankfort on
the Oder, we find him in the company OF George Foster
descending the Rhine on his way TO Holland and Eng
land he writes his work on the basas near the Kline
Immediately after this he proceeds TO treberg for study
ing under Werner the founder of geological science, and
he writes on fossil plants He then enters for short
time into the Prussan civil service but the routine OF
administrative duties not satisfying his ardent mind, he
applies with redoubed ardor 10 the study OF animal cleo
tcty, goes Vienna, where he abors ntenty on bota
NY then travels, accompanied by Leopold Buch and
10 whom is still permitted TO behold the light OF day.
through Salzburg and Syria, but il is compelled TO
The .n Of snSSgg lay H Ps
where he forms the acquaintance OF his future uav-
elling companion Bonpland and in 1899, sets out for
the court OF Madrid to obtain there the permission OF
travelling through the Spanish colonies oil America In
his eighteenth year he had resolved on visiting the
American continent and what he had studied and abored
on up to his thrteth year. he considered as mere pre-
paraIon for the accomplishment Of greater task The
youth had, indeed had his fancy fired at first by the
splendid and luxurant vegetation OF the plant world,
by the forests OF gigantic trees interviewer with anas
and the foliage OF countless shrubs by the peculiarly OF
the lofty seppes on the Andes the boundess extent oil
the savannahs OF which he subsequently traced so vivid
picture in his views OF nature Gradually, however,
with his increasing knowledge the purely scientific
interest," and Humboldt commenced his voyage across the
Atlantic ocean.
The hardy traveller, so carefully prenstructed, ira
versed the mounts and plains OF modern Venezuela, as
cending the 0rinoco where il branches of, and thus
forms junction with the Amazon, exploring Guayana,
concerning which another German traveller Schomberg,
has lately given such valuable contributions he then sail
ed the Cuba the pearl Of the Antilles, then
back to the continent again, which he mounted along the
valley of Magdaena up TO the table ahd OF the Cord-
leras Thus he scanned the majestic soltudes OF Quito,
and navgated the coasts OF the Pacic he has conured
up for the departed world of the State OF the lncas IN
his life breathing pictures and true delneaons thus he
wandered through Mexico and classicaly described II,
returning thence by the United States TO Europe But
while he partly editing, partly preparing his works on
the New World he received in 1929 the summons TO
travel accompanied by Rose and Ehrenbeg, 10 northern
Asia, and he consequently at the age OF sixty years,
visited Siberia and the Altai.
| Humboldfs gigantic work on America comprehends, in
the large edition. seventeen volumes in folio and eleven
volumes in quarto. II of the geography Of plants
of zoology, and comparative anatomy, astronomy, and
geognosy II presents physical picture OF the tropic
regions and especially treats also OF their climatoogy IL