Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-03-05
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le''er Will ue reau with much interest
81 was glad when the clock struck - at
last, and ! could leave the rattling streets for
that quiet corner Of the palace in which Hum
b7llt lives The door was opened, as before,
by Seitert who recognized me at once. Wei
come back ! he cried; we know whore you
have bcon-we have read all your letters =
His hNcellency has been quite sick, and you
will not find him so strong as he was last
year, but he is in tolcrable health again
thank God Come in, come in: he is wait
ing Opening the doors as he spoke, he
ushercd me into q little library. on the thresh-
hold Of which Humboldt, who had risen, re-
coived me. lie was slightly paler than be-
iore' q little thinner perhaps ana could see
That has step was not so firm; but the pale
blue eye boamed as clear an Intelligence as
ever ana the voice had as steady and choery
tone. lie SHOOK hands with the cordiality
OF irend and after the hrst greetings were
over questioned me INFINITELY concerning my
travels IN the North.
but one topic soon suggests hundred
others ana he was ere long roaming at large
over the whole held OF geography and clmat-
oiogy' touching the iarthest and darkest re-
gions OF the earth with the light of his stu
pendous knowledge Inc sheets OF the new
volume OF Cosmos lay upon the table Here
is What / nave oeen dong since You were
mere oeiore, slu me- taxing 1t up' the work
WIN be published IN two or three weeks -
lon ma yourself. then stlll capable OF such
iohar j Vcntufed TO ask wv ork IS now
part OF my ite' said he Il sleep so httle
ana much rest would be rksome Day before
yesterday | worked sixteen hours reviewing
these sheets. Are You not greatly iatigued,
asked after such an eXertlon ON the
contrary me ropHed' 4 ieei refreshed ont the
PlIlulm"hC5 OF III ucpehus greatly upon the
state ol my BODILY hcalth. am unconscious
oil any mental iaugue' As ! saw IN the lace,
ana heard IN the Nolce OF the splendid ola
man an the Signs OF sound, uniailing intel
lcct' could well believe IT, had prlded
myseh niue on having worked with the
orain nIteen hours a day for SIX months yet
mere was Humboldt, IN ms 60th year, capable
Oh an equal eNcruon'
he manner IN which he spoke OF his bod
ny health was exceedingly interesting to me.
Ills mind' tuil OF yigor, and oyeriiowing with
active life, seemed to consider the mind as
something independent OF ltseli, and TO watch,
with a curious eye its gradual decay as he
might have watched that Of tree in his
younger days u have been unwoll through
the SUMNER sand he, but You must not be-
lleye all you may have seen in the newspapers
concerning my Illness. Ihoy stated that /
was attacked with apoplexy, but it was only
vertigo which soon left me, and has not
been followed by any of the usual effects OF
apopleNy' One result, however shows that
my body rs beginning TO give way. / have
not the same power of controlling my limbs
as formerly; the will docs not seem to act
upon the muscles there is link broken
somewhere, which it is probably too late to
restore For instance, very often when at
tempt to walk straight forward, | do not feel
certain that my legs will carry me in straight
line they may go either to one side or the
other, and, though ! cannot notice any real
want of strength, ! feel uncertain and mis-
trustiul For this reason | must have assls-