Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-05
INTERVIEW WITH BARON Won HUMBOLDT

Professor SLLIMAs has recently added two volumes to
the vast library of European travels from Of which
extract extremely interesting passage descriptive
Of an interview with the venerable HUMBOLDT:
In ful6lment of an appointment at one, and
admitted by his faithful servant the companion of
many arduous journey. His mansion is plain edi-
fee situated in retired part of the city; and he would
not have been at home had not the king gone Ko
nigsberg for his residence is generally with the king
potsdam. who keeps him near his person, as his father
did before him. only for his society and conversation
but doubt also as a counsellor wise from his many
years and his large experience in the world passed
through his library, which fills, ON all sides, room Of
considerable size and he issued from door the
side of the apartment, opening apparently from his
private He met with great kindness and per-
feet frankness and with pleasant rebuke for my having
hesitated to call him. q had written note asking
permission to call implying that he was not Ignorant
of my position and efforts at homt. then introduced
my and Mr. Brush and were at once placed per-
fecty at His bright csuntenance expresses
great benevolence and from the fountain Of his immense
stores of knowledge stream, almost constant, flowed
for nearly hour He not entrossing, but yielded
to prompngs, whenever he suggested an inquiry or
alluded to any particular topic for we did not wish to
occupy the time with remarks any further than to
draw him out He has perfect Command of the best
English and speaks the language quite agrecaby There
is stateness about HIM and he is ms aable
if he had claims to superorit! His voice is eS-
ceedngy musical and he is animated and amabe that
you feel at if he old friend His person
is not much above the middle size he is not unlike in
form to the late Colonel Trumbull. He stoops little
but less than most at the age ofeighywo He has
no appearance of decrepude; his eyes brilliant his
complexion ght but his features and person round
although fat his hair thin and yhc his mind very
active and bis language brilliant, and sparkling with
ght thoughts. He alluded in catering manner to
progress in knowledge in the United States and to
the effect which the American JoRrnalof Science and Arts
had produced in promoting it. He showed himself per-
fecy acquainted with the progress physical science
and general improvement in county, and particularly
commended the labors of COL Fremont in the Far West
of Professor Bache in the coast survey and of Lieut.
Maury in navigation Bringing out his maps and tracing
his lines without glasses, he pontei out channel OF
communication across the Ishmus If Darien which he
had observed and described than forty years ago.
and to which his attention had been recalled by paper
of Captain Ftzroy in the Journal Of Ne Royal Geogrcp
cal Society He showed us that ther. mountains
in the he indicated which is southern than
Of the existing routes and that u possessed several
important advantages. alluded to his brief visit to the
United States 1904 when he travelled further north
than Philadelphia. lie told that passed three
weeks at Monticello, with Mr. Jefferson, who entertained
him with extraordinary project of his inventive but
often visionary mind regarding the ultimate division Of
the American Continent into three great republics IN
vong the conquest of Mexico and of the South Amer
can states He discussed many topics regarding the
United States. The discovery of gold in California fur
nished him abundant theme; topography, eli
mates productions institutions, and political
troversies all familiar with him. Baron Humboldt
although associated Intimately with kings, is evidently
friend to human liberty and reoices in the prosperity
our country He made very interesting remarks OF
the present state Of Europe, and the impossblity
keeping down moral power by physical force In hi:
library hung excellent likeness Of the king and
Their of his brother, the late William Humboldt the
eminent philosopher and chronological anhquary We
tired greatly gratifed, and the more in his
eighty third year might pass away 1t is proper To
add that at the time Of visit Baron Won Humboldt
was engaged in the preparation of production
the Outline Form Of Mountain Peaks in which he was
working up original observations and drawings made du
ring the of his various wanderngs lie assured
that the greater part Of his literary labor
sity performed when others slept the hours Of usual
labor were with him consumed by the demands of the
King He added that he early made the discovery that
he could get very well with four hours Of sleep This
has been often remarked for his prodigous
performances in literary labor Such the modest and
unassumng language and appearance Of who has in
person explored larger portion of globe than any
other living travellers Of philosopher who has iustrat
ed and enlarged almost every department Of human
knowledge General physics and chemistry geology ma
ural history phology civil antiquities, and ethuography
haze all been illustrated by him."