Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-07-16
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
Baron Won Humboldt.

Baron Humboldt, who has devoted more
than half century TO the Natural Scicn-
tcs, and whose wonderful work Cosmos }
will be an enduring monument to his di-
vcrsiied talents and learning, is now eigh-
" years of age. A correspondent of the
New York Commercial Advertiser, wri-
TING from the capital of Prussia, gives the
following brief account Of him:
Baron Humboldt is the friend and COM
panion of the Ming of Prussia. 1t would
seem that their intimacy is as close and
familiar, as that which existed between
Nollaire and Frederick the Great, and as
ii has 4 better foundation to rest upon,
there is less probability of its interruption.
Those who are cOnVCrsant with the travels
of Humboldt in South America, will
doubtless picture him, even in old age, as
Il robust and vigorous octogenarian III.
deed he is usually so described by those
who visit him. But, according 10 the
Commercials correspondent he no longer
retains a relic of that yigOr, which enabled
him TO scale ChimborazO, and endure ev-
cry species of privaIOn, with almost su-
pcrhuman impunlty, 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, California was one of the topics of
conversation. The Baron expressed the
opinion that the value Of the gold mines,
had beeh over estimated, for that the yield
50 far had been much less than that of the
Russian mines, which have frequently
produced thirty millions of dollars in a
Year. The Jumps of California gold, even
The largest OF them, are, II appears, much
inferior III size TO some of the fragments,
found from time TO time, in the Ural Noun
talns. Baron Humboldt stated thai one
sohd lump of eighty pounds, and many
OF forty, thirty, twenty, and sixteen, have
been found IN the Russian aiming districts.
Humboldt has probably slept less than
any man living of the same agc-his reg
ular allowance never having exceeded four
hours out of the twcnty-lour. 1t seems,
indeed, that the lIumboldls have always
been slecplcsS race. The habits of the
great philosopher, who for two ,hiIds of a
century has been engaged in the constant
pursuits of useful knowledge, and who,
when he dies, will leave no superior be-
hnrd him, are thus skechcd br the Com
mcrclal' 5 correspondent:
Ills time Is Systematically divided
lie uses at SIX IN the winter. and Eve IN
the summer, studies TWO lIourS, drinks q
cup OF coffee, returns to his stuGv, and
commences thc task of answering his let
lcrs, ol which hc receives We; rIv more
than ten thousand. From twelve uur
TWO he receives visits, and returns TO work
at TWO. AT iour he dimes, in the summer
with HE King, IN the winter al humc
from four until ,!evcn he passes al the IA
l'Ic, and generally i'll company with Ill,
hlhg, but SUmCumts at meetings of learn
'H Sucic"cH, or Il, company with hi:
friends. AtClCvCu he rCln,S to las study
and continues there uuIll one or two, an
SWclmg lctllrs, or writing his woikS, I.
preparing riicn hy study. llls best hoe k!
have all been written AT midnight. II,
sleeps ieur hours, il having alwa> : been
peculiarly IN his l,mlIy, to require hlll,
sleep
"ANr.--" am afraid ILai | shall conn
10 wahl' said an old lady 10 ii youn,
one. :" iIafe eo,un tn -, .l.,l, ,