New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-09

where, hike yourself. During I'VE years In SUN
America and the West Indies passed through the
midst Of black vomt and yellow fever untouched"
i rpsle Of ny projected visit to Russia,
and 10y desire to traverse the Russian Tartar
provinces of Central Asia. The Knghiz steppes
he ,ai5, were very nohotenous; fifty miles gave
you the picture Of thousand; but the people were
exceedingly interesting If desired to go there,
would have no difficulty in passing through them TO
the Chinese frontier; bat the southern provinces Of
Siberia, he thought, would best repay me. TIE
scenery among the Al.ai Mountains was very
gsbd. From hls window in one of the Siberian
towns, he bad counted eleven peaks covered with
eternal snow. TIE Kirghzes, be added, were
among The few races whose habits had remained un-
changed for thousands Of years, and they had the
remarkable peculiarly of combining a monastic
with nonadIc life. They were partly Buddhist
and partly MussumsD, and their monkish sects fol-
lowed the different clans in their wanderiDgs, carry
ing on their devOtioDs in the encampments inside Of
sacred circle marked out by spears. He bad seen
their ceremonies, and was struck with their resem-
blsDce to those Of the Catholic church.
HunbOldts recOnections of the Altai Mountains
naturally led him to speak Of the Andes. "You
have travelled in Mexico" said be; "do you not
sgrte with me in the opinion this. the finest
mountains in the world are those single cones of
perpetual snow rising out Of the splendid vegeta-
ton Of the tropics The Himalsyas, although
l"ftier, can scarcely make an equal impressions
they lie further to the north, without the belt of
tropical grOwths, and their sides are dreary aud
sterile in comparison. You remember Onzaba,"
continued he; "bere is an engraving from a rough
sketch Of mine. / hope you will find it correct"
He and took down the illustrated folio which
compsned the last edition of his "Mnor Writings"
turned over the leaves and recalled at each plate,
some reminiscence of bis Amerca travel. ~ still
think" he remarked as he closed the book "that
Chimborazo is the grandest mountain ia the
world"
Among the objects in his study was living
chameleon, in box with glass lid. The animal
which was about SIX inches long, was lazlly doing
On bed Of sand, with a big blue.fy (the uncon-
scious provision for his dinner perched upon his
back. "He has just been sent to me from
Smyrna" said Humboldt "he isvery Gstless and
uncoDcerned in his manner" Just then the cha
meleon opened one of bis long, tubular eyes, and
looked up at US. "a popularity Of this animal"
be continued, "is ITS power of looking in different
directions at the same time. He can tarn one eye
toward heaven, while the other nspects the earth.
There are many cergymen who have the same
power"
After showing me some of Hldebrands water
color drawings, he returned to his seat and began
to converse about American affairs, with which he
seemed to be entirely familiar He spoke with
great admiration of Col Fremont, whose defeat he
profoundly regretted. But it is at least 9 most
cheering sigD," be said, "and an omen Of good
for your country, that moro than half miHlon
of men supported by their votes man of Ere
monts character and achievements. With re-
gard TO Buchanan, he said II had occasion to
speak of his Osiend Manifesto not long since, in
a letter which has been published, and l could
not characterize its spirit by any milder term
than sarage" He also spoke of our authors,
and inquired particularly after Washington Irving,
whom he had ence seen. ! told him had the
fortune to know Mr.. Irving and had seen him net
long before leaving New-York. "He must be at
least fifty years DID," said Humboldt. He is
seventy" answered. "but as young as ever"
All I" said he, ~ have lived so long that have
almost lost the consciousness of time. belong
10 the age of jefferson and GallstiD, and heard
of Wa,hiDgtOn's death while travelling In South
America"
l have repeated but the smallest portion OF
his conversation, which flowed on in an unlnter-
upted stream of the richest knowledge. On re-
calling it 70 my mind, after leaving, was surprised
to end how great a number Of subjects be had
touched upon, and how much be had said, or
seemed to have sad-for he has the rare faculty OF
placing subject in the clearest and most vivid
light by few luminous understanding EACH
He thought, as be talked, without effort. should
compare bis brain to the Fountain of Vaucluse-a
still, deep and tranquil pool, without ripple on its
surface, but creating RIVER by it's overflow. be
ASKED me many questions, but did not always wait
for an answer the question itself suggesting some
Renaissance, or some thought which he had evil
dent pleasure in expressing. sat OF walked, fol-
lowing his DOyements an esger listener, and speak
mg in alternate English and German, until The time
which he had granted to me had expired. Seifert
at length resppeared aud said TO him, in manner
at once respectful and familiar, 1T is time, and
took my leave.
"You have Travelled much, and seen many ruins
said Humboldt, as he gave me his hand again;
now you have seen one more" "Not ruin,
| could not help replying, "buta pyramid" For
pressed the hand which had touched those OF
Frederick the Great, of Forster, the companion of
Capt. Cool, of KopstOck and Schiller, of Pit,
Napoleon, Josephine, the Ma 'shals Of the Empire,
Jefferson, Hamilton, Wieland, Herder, Goethe,