Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-04-03
BARON Won HUMBOLDT.

Baron Humboldt, who has devoted more than
half century to the Natural Sciences, and whose
wonderful work {" Cosmos will be an enduring
monument to his diversified talents and learning is
now so years Of aye. A correspondent Of the n.
Y. Commercial Advertiser. writing from the capi-
tai of Prussia gives the following brief account of
him;
Baron Humboldt is the friend and companion Of
the King Of Prussia. Ii would seem that their in
tmacy is as close and familiar as that which exist
ed between Vultaire and Frederick the Great, and
as ii has better foundation to rest upon, there is
less probability of its interruption Those who are
conversant with the travels Of Humboldt in South
America, will doubtless picture him, even in old
age, as robust and vigorous octogenarian; indeed
he is usually so described by those who visit him.
But, according to the Commercials correspondent,
he no longer retains relic of that vgor which en-
abled him 10 scale Chimboraso, and endure every
species of prvation with almost superhunan impu
nifty. His intellect remains unimpaired, but his
frame is meagre with age, and his head, whitened
by the SHOWS of eighty winters, droops upon his
breast.
| During the interview described in the letter, Ca
ifornia was one of The topics of conversation. The
Baron expressed the opinion that the value of the
gold mines had been over estimated. for that the
yield so far had been much less than that of
the Russian mines, which have frequently produc-
ed thirty millions of dollars in a year. The Jumps
of California god even the largest Of them, are, it
appears, much inferior in size to some of the frag
menis found from time to time in the Ural Noun
tans. Baron Humboldt stated that one solid lump
of eighty pounds. and many of forty. thirty, TWEEN
ty, and sixteen, had been found in the Russian mi
ming districts.
Humboldt has slept less than any man living of
the same age-his regular allowance never having
exceeded four hours out of the twenty;four. 1t
seems, indeed, that the Humboldis haze always
been sleepless four The habits Of The great phi
losopher, who for two.,hlrds Of century has been
engaged in the constant pursuit Of useful knowledge
and who when he dies will leave no superior be-
hind him, are thus sketched by the Commercials
correspondents
ellis time is Systematically divided. He rises
at six in the winter and five in thesummer, studies
two hours, drinks cup of Coffee returns 10 his STU
dy, and commences the task of answering his let
! ters, Of which he receives yearly more than Ten
thousand. From twelve until two he receives vis-
lis, and returns to work at two. At four he dimes,
in summer with the King. in the winter at home; /;
from four until eleven he passes at the table, and
generally in company with the King, but sometimes
al meetings of learned societies or in company with
his friends. At eleven he retires 10 his study, and
continues there until one or two, answering letters,
or writing his works, or preparing them by study.
His best books have all been written at midnight.
He sleeps four hours, it having always been Pc
culiarity in his family TO require little Sleep"