The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-09-13
Col. Fremont and Baron Humboldt.

Col. Fremont and Baron Humboldt
COL Fremont is known and honored among
learned and scientific men the world over, as
but few OF our citizens are Were he to die
to dav. he would leave name more honora-
bic and more immortal than that achieved by
either of his rivals for the Presidency. one Of
whom is nearly twice his age, and the other
a full half oder He has contributed to the
stock OF knowledge of the world.-he has
made his mark on the record which lives
he has done something positive, for he is an
affirmative and positive man. Among the
notable recocnitions Of bis labors in the field
Of science, and as pioneer 4 American dis
ovcry. was the comforting upon him, sever
al years ago. BY the King of Prussia. Of the
great Golden Medal OF Progress in the Sci
ences." 1t was presented through the great
European savan and traveller, Baron Hum
boIdf, with letter most flattering in its terms
We sutjoin this. a. showing in what light
Fremont is held by mar 30 learned, emf
nent and noble. One sentence of Humboldt's
letter we have marked in italics; it was
conscientious tribute paid to the Senator
then; it is highly significant of Fremont's
"friendship to liberty and to the progress Of
intelligence" now.
J "TO Col Fremont, Senator 1T is very a.
grepabe to me, sir, to address Won these lines
by INV excellent friend our Minister to the Uni
ted States. NJ. de GeroIt. After taving Civ
IN YOU in the new edition OF nv "A sperts Of
Nature" the public testimony Of the admira-
ton which is due to YOUR gigantic labors be-
tween ST. Loui. Of Missouri. and the coasts
Of the South Sea. teel happy to offer you.
in this living token (ddns ce petit signe de
rie. the homage Of my warm acknowledS
ment. You have displayed noble courage
in distant expeditions. braved all the dangers
Of cold and famine, enriched! all the branches
Of the nat ural sciences. illustrated a vast
country which was most entirely unknown to
US.
"A merit 30 rare has been acknowleo gp,l
| ~ IutCtVS'Vu w lux PtVH
ress Of physical geography; the Ming orders
me to offer you the grand golden medal de.,
tined to those who have Iabored at scientif
progress. hope that this mark Of the rova'
GOOD will be agreeable to you at q time
when. upon the proposition of the illustrou.
geographer. Charles Ritter, Of the Groyraphi
cal Society at Berlin. has named YOU hon
orarv member. For myself, ! must thank
YOU particularly also for the honor which
you have done in attaching nv name and ,ha,
Of INV ftIlow-Iabo,er and intimate friend. Mr.
Bonpland, to countries neighborins TO those
which lave been the object of our lah0,s
California. mhich has so nobIy resisted Tie in
troduction Of s'nrery. wW be worthiiy repre-
sented by q friend Of liberty and Of the prog
ress et intelligence.
. Accept, pray you, sir, the expression Of
nv high and sffectio'ate consideration.
Your most humble and most obedirnt ser
want. A. v. HUMBOLDT.
"Sans Souci, Oct. Z, 1867
On the envelope thus addressed
|. "To Colonel FREMONT. Senator,
l with the Golden Medal
"FOr the progress Of the sciences.
: ''RAR"N H uMR"LDr"
y The following is the description Of the med
al: Of fice gold, massive, more than doubt
the size of the American double eagle, and o,
exquisite work mansh;p. On the face is III
I medallion head Of the King Frederic WiIIiar
n the Fourth surrounded by figures embIema,
icaI Of Religion, Jurisprudence, Medicine an
!. the Arts. On the reverse. Apollo, in til
. chariot Of the sun, drawn by four high me
n tied Plu"gins horses, trsversing the zodia'
}. and darting rays Of light from bis head.
j. The following is the recognition of F..
monts geographical and geological Iafo,
which Baron humboldt alludes 10, as havin
" been embraced in one Of his books:
Is "fremont's map and geographical invest
F. cations comprehend the extensive region frou
be junction OF the Kansa. river with til
Missouri to the falls Of the Columbia. and
the missions Of Santa Barbara and Pueblo d
los Angeles. in New California; or a spac
~ OF % degrees longitude, and from the 34th
the 4jrh parallel Of latitude Four hun,ire
D. points have been determined hyposometrica
4. ~ ny barOmetic observations, and. for tn
re most part. geographically by astrono,nir;
. observations; SO that a district which. vi,
the winding OF the route, amounts to $50
:: geographical miles from the mouth of m
'e Kansas to Fort Van Couver and the .hor,
v OF the Parif", (amo,t 72O miles more tia
u the distance from Madrid to Tobolsk,) h;
:. been represented in profile, showing the re-
alive heights above the level of the sea.
] AS ! was. believe. the first person VII
s. undertook to represent. in geognostc profil
m the form OF entire countries-snch AZ the To-
ran peninsula, the high lands of Mexico an
the CordiIleras Of South America. (the sem
ID perspective projections Of Siberian travele
in Able ChaPpe. we're founded on mere an
% generally iIl;judgrd destinations of the fall @
rIvers) 1t has given I've particular pIeasu,
NJ TO see the geographical method of represen
re ing the form OF the earth in a vertical dire
IN ton, or the elevations of the solid norton q
!, our planet above its watery covering, apple
- on so grand scale as has been done in FIR
" mont's map