The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-18
FROM the 81 Louis Union, May ..
Colonel Frsnaonts
CoIonsl F,smoat, Man and Boy-1he Eartg Promise
and The Ripe Performance.

Colonel Frsmost Man and Boy-1he Eartq Promise,
and the Ripe Performance
There have come to hands at the same time two no.
tees of Colonel Fremont; one IN relation 10 ms early
AGE ana scbooboy days. the other in relation to his great
EXPLORATIONS and both honorable TO him, and from per-
sons whose testimony is most honorahlehis teacher
and The Baron Humboldt In the preface TO school
edition of Xenopbon's Anabass for Greek class by Dr.
Roberton, now OF Philadelphia, there is an account
OF the young Fremont as he first appeared at the gram
school OF the Doctor, at Charleston, (Souih Caro-
hns) and OF his diligence, and progress and moral de-
pertinent, and early promise Of distinguished me- wheh
is gwen the preface stales an example ana en-
couragement to all his scholars The oiher y ei,e
from the great Baron Humboldt and besides expressing
his own admiration OF the labors OF fremont c94huh
Gates TO him the grand golden medal OF lhe h,ns ~
Prussia for progress the Sciences and makes known
To him his election honorary member OF the ueo
graphical Society al Berlin. =,
The following is the notice OF the old teacher
"For your further encouragement will here relate
very remarkable instance OF patent diligence ana ihuo
liable perseverance,. ,,
SIN the year 1897 after had returned TO Charleston
from Scotland and my classes were gong on very re-
spectacle lawyer 10 my SCHOOL, think some time
in the month OF Ocober-wth youth apparently about
sixteen or perhaps not mach ll40 of middle size,
in manners rather SLENDER but well formed and,
1pon the whole, what would call handsome; OF keen,
piercing eye and noble forehead, seemingly the very
of genius The gentleman stated that he found HIM
given to study; that he had been about three weeks
learning the Latin rudments, and Coping, suppose, to
the youths attention from the law to the ministry
had resolved to place him Under my care Tor the purpose
OF learning Greek. latin, and mathematics sufficient TO
enter Charleston College. very gladly received HIM;
for Immediately perceived he no common YOUTH as
intelligence beamed in his dark eye and shone brightly
on his countenance. indicating great ability and an as.
surance of his future progress at once put nm = the
highest class just beginning TO read CRsars Cominena
RES and although at first inferior, his prodglous mem
DRY and enthusiastic application soon enabled him to
surpass the best He began Greek at the same tme and
read with some who had been long at it, which he also
exceled In Short in the space OF one year he had
with the class, and at odd hours with myself, read four
books of Caesar. Cornelius Nepos Sallust, six books
of Virgil, nearly all Horace, and two books OF Evy;
and in Greek, all Graca Ninora, about the half Of the
first volume OF Gr4ca Majoa, and four books OF Homers
Had And whatever he read he retained It seemed
TO me, in fact if he learned by mere intuition.
myself utterly astonished, and at the same time de-
lighted with his progress have limited above that he
was designed for the church but when contemplated
his bold fearless disposition, his powerful inventive &C.
MUS his admiration of warlike exploits and his love OF
heroic and adventurous deeds did not think KeIy ne
ever the least appearance OF any vice whatever On the
contrary he always the very pattern OF virtue and
modesty | could not help loving him. SO much did he
capvae by his gentemanly conduct and extraordi-
nary progress was easy TO see that he would one day
raise himself to emnence Whilst under my instruction.
discovered his early genius for poetic composition IN the
following manner When the Greek class read the
count that HeTodotus gives OF the battle OF Marathon,
the bravery of MiI.ades and his ten thousand Greeks
raised his patriotic feelings to enthusiasm and drew from
him expressions which thought were EMBODIED IN few
days afterwards in wellwrlten verses IN Charles
ton paper, that arfamed unequal but successful con-
fct against tyranny and oppression and susPecung my
talented scholar TO be the author went to his desk anu
asked him he did not write them, and hesatlng at
FIRST he rather bushingy confessed he did. then said,
. knew you could do such things, and suppose you
have some such pieces by you which should like TO
Do bring them 10 me- He consented and in day two
brought me number, which read with pleasure and
admiration the strong marks OF genius stamped all,
but here and there requiring, as thought very slight
amendment.
81 had hired mathematician TO teach both him and my
self or could then teach that scence and in this be
also made such wonderful progress that at the end OF one
year he entered the junior class in Charleston College
triumphanty, whilst others who had been studying four
years and more obliged TO take the Sophomore
class About the end OF the year 1928 left Charleston
but heard that he highly distinguished himself. and
graduated in 1890. After that he taught mathematics for
some time His career afterwards has been OF heroic
adventure, OF hair breadth escapes by Hood and eld and
of scientific explorations which have made hirl world
wide renowned, In letter received from him very
words am uery far from either forgetting yoa or
negeting you, any tody losing The old regard had
for you There time 70 whieh go back pita more
pleasure than that spent U you for there tpas no tune
so thoroughly treH spent and Of anything may have
learned, remember nothing 50 set and 50 distinctly as
,ba, the meT was Amos, ali his own II is true thai
encouraged and cheered him but the soil INTO which
/ put the seeds OF learning had not been OF the richest
quality, they never would have sprung up TO hundred
fold in the full year
Such, my Young friends, is bu, an imperfect sketch
of my once beloved and fayorte pupil, now senator,
and who may yet rise to be al the head Of this great
and growing republic. My prayer is, that he may
ever be opposed to war; injustice and oppression OF
every kind blessing to his country, and example OF
every noble virtue 10 the whole world
As many OF our readers understand French, and might
like TO the letter OF the great Humboldt the patriarch
OF science and for hy years al the head oil The scientific
world and in the eighty second year OF his age,
here give it in French, copied from the original
"MossrruR LIE SEsATEUR II NEST ben doux Mon.
sieur de adresser gnes par mon excellent ami
notre ministre EtatsUn NJ. de Gerot Apes vous
avo dome dams la nouyee edition de mes 1d5iedur de
la Nature lie temognage pubque de admiraiion qul est
due gigantesques travaux entire st LOUIS du Mis-
sour ct les cotes de la du Sud, e sens heureux
de ofrlr, dams petit sgne de we, fhommage de
ma vive reconnaissance Vous depoye noble
courage dams des expeditions lonaInes brave ous les
dangers des frimas ct du manque de nourture enrich
toutes les parties de sciences naturees usre waste
pays qui nous eait presque enforcement enconnu. I'm
meri,e 81 etc par souyerain vIyement
inerresse progress de la geographic physique lie Ro
modonne de ofFir lagrande medae dor, desiinee
qui out lravalle des progress scieniihques
Jsspee que cee marque de la benveilance royae
agreeable dams moment on sur la proposition de
lustre geographic Charles Ritter la socct de geographic
residant Berlin vous momme pour membre hon
norare QUAINT moi lie aos vous remercer particulier
ement aussi de lhonneur que vous mayez ait daache
mon nom celu de collaboration Ell ami ntime NJ
Bonpland des conrees vosnes de cees gu ont etc
Foblet de travaux La California qui a nobfemcHt
Tessts Introduction de fesolavage digDemen rep
resentee par ami de la bere ct des progress de Fin
teigence
"Agreez, lie vous prize, Monsieur le Senaieur, fex-
preston de ma baste affeoueuse consideration
"Votre T. b. ct l. o. serveur,
"a v HUMBOLDT
"a SANS SoUcr, lie Octobre 1850"
On the envelope thus addressed
"A Monsieur,