Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-05-17
COLONEL FREMONT.


There has come hands the same time two notices
Of Col FREMONT 10 relation his early age and school
boy days. the other relation bis great explorations and
both honorable him. and from persons whose testimony
most teacher and the Baron HumBoLpr In
the preface school edition Of xenophons Anabass for
Greek class by Dr. RoBrRros, of Philadelphia there
an account of the young FREMosr be first appeared
the grammar school Of the Dr. Charleston (S C and Of
his diligence and progress and moral department. and early
promise Of distinguished life which gven as the preface
states example and encouragement to all his scholars
The other is letter from the great Baron HUxBoLpT and
besides expressing his admiration Of the abors Of
aosT communicates to him the grand golden medal Of the
King Prussia for progress the sciences and makes known
him his election honorary member of the Geograph-
cal Society at Berlin.
The following is the notice Of the old teacher:
"For your further encouragement will here relate
very remarkable instance Of patient diligence and ndoma-
bic perseverance.
In the year 1927, after had returned to Charleston
from Scotland and my classes were going on, very repec
table lawyer to my school, think some time in the
month Of October, with youth apparently about xteen
perhaps not much, Of middle size, graceful in
ner rather slender but well formed and xpon the WHOLE
what would call handsome Of keen piercing eye and
noble forehead seemingly the very Of genius The gen.
teman stated that be found him given to study that be had
been about three weeks learning the Latin rudnens and
hoping, suppose, TO the youths attention from the
law the ministry had resolved place him under my
for the purpose Of learning Greek. Lstn and Mathemac
sufficient to enter Charleston College. very gladly receiv
ed him, for Immediately perceived be common
youth, intelligence beamed in his dark eye and shone
brightly his counenance indicating great aby and an
assurance Of his future progress at put him in the
highest class just beginning TO read Csars Commentaries
and, although at first inferior his prodgous memory and en-
husastic application enabled him to supass the best
He began Greek at the same me and read with who
NJ hooI oIooo IL
in the space of year. he bad with the class and odd
hours with myself read four books of Cesar Cornelius Ne
pos Saust, six books Of Virgil nearly all Horace and two
books of Lyy and in Greek all Graca Minors about the
half of the first volume of Grpca Mao and four books of
Homer's Had. And whatever he read, he retained. It
seemed me, in fact if he learned by mere intuition
utterly astonshed, and at the lime delighted
with bis progress have hinted above that he designed
for the Church, but when contemplated bis bold fearless
disposition, his powerful inventive genius bis admiration Of
warke exploits and his love Of heroic and adventurous
deeds, did not think it likely he would be minister of the
Gospel He had not however, the least appearance Of any
pattern of virtue and modesiy could not help loving him.
much did he captvate BY his genemany conduct and
extraordinary progress 1t easy that he would one
day raise himself to ennence Whilst under my instructions
discovered his early genius for poetic composition in the fol-
lowing When the Greek class read the account
that Herodotus gives of the battle of Marathon, the bravery of
Mades and his thousand Greeks raised his patriotic
feelings to enthusiasm, and drew from him expressions which
thought embodied in few days afterwards In some
wewrien in Charleston paper. that far-famed
unequal but successful conflict against tyranny oppression;
and suspecng my talented scholar to be the author
his desk, and asked him if he did write them and
hesa:ng at first, rather bushingy ne confessed be did,
then said knew you could do such things and suppose
you have such pieces by you which should like
Do bring them TO me- He consented and in day
brought number which read with pleasure and admi-
ration at the strong marks Of genius stamped ALL but
here and there Jequrng as thought very slight amend
ment.
81 had hired mathematician teach both him and my
self or could not then teach that scence and in this he
also made such wonderful progress that at the end Of
year, he entered the junior class in Charleston College um
phany whilst others who had been studying four years and
obliged take the Sophomore About the end
Of the year ls2s left Charleston, but heard that be highly
distinguished HIMSELF and graduated in $780, After that he
taught mathematics for time. His afterwards hos
been Of heroic adventure escapes by food
and field, and of scientific explorations which have made
him worldwide renowned. In letter received from him
very lately, ha expresses his gratitude in the following
words: lam ueryJr from either forgetting you, or ne
you There is no lime TO cch go back Wi plea
sure than that spent wh you, for there no time so
thoroughly weH spent and any thing Inay haze harmed
remember nothing ,ceH and distinctly as ,oha ac.
quired M you Here help saying that the merit
almost all his 1t is true that encouraged and
cheered him on, but if the soil into which put the seeds
learning had not been Of the richest quality they would
have sprung up to hundred fold in the full Such
loved and avorie pupil, Senator and who may yet
rise to be at the head Of this great and growing Republic
My prayer that be mayever be opposed war; injustice
and oppression of every kind, blessing his county, and
an example Of every noble virtue to the whole world
As many of readers understand French, and might like
to the letters Of the great HuMBoLDr the patriarch of
science, and for fifty years at the head of the scientific world
and now in the eighty year Of his age here give
it in French, as copied from the original.
Monsieur k Senatetr II m'es bien douI, Monsieur, de
adresser gnes par excellent a notre minsre
Etats Unis, NJ de Gero Apes avdr donne dams
la nouvele edition de 1dbeaur de Ia Nature temoignage
publique de radmiraon qu est due vos ggantesques
st. Louis du Missouri ct ss c5.es de du
Sud, heureux de ofrr, dams CO petit sgne
de vie rhommage de vive reconnaissance. Vous
depoye un noble courage dams des expeditions lontanes
brave tous les dangers des fmas du anque de nouue
enrichi toues les parties de sciences paurees, use
waste pays qu eat presque enerement nconnu Tn
merte 81 rare etc reconnu par un souveran, Uvement
ineresse aux progres de Ia geographic physique le Roi
m ordonne de ofrr Ia grande medaiIe dor desnee
ceux qui ont travae des progress scen6ques Jespee
que cette maque de Ia benvesnce royse agreeable
dams moment OH sur proposition de Puste geographic
Charles Ritter. Ia socete de geographic resdant Berlin
nomme pour membre honnoraire. QUAINT moi je
dos vous remercier pacueement auss de hoBneur que
mavez fat datacher nom celu de- colsbo
raeur ct ami ntime NJ Bonpand des cones yoisines de
cees qui ont ee pobet de ravaux La California qu
noblement resiste Pintroducion de rescsyage sera
dsnement represenee un ami de bee stdes progress
de Intelligence.
Asreez je vous pe Monsieur le senateur, Repression
de ma haule ct affectueuse consideration.
Vone t. q, ct I. o. serviteur.
A. " HUMBOLDT.
SAss-SoucI le octobre 1850
On the envelope thus addressed
GA Monsieur,