The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-05
THE FoURrH or JULY IN BERLIN

CForeign correspondence od the 81 Louis Republican,
Happening to be in Berlin ON the 3d. received in
vtation from able and hospitabe minister at the
court of Prussia the Hon, Governor Wright formerly OF
Indiana to Join party OF Americans IN celebrating
the glorious anniversary OF our national independ-
ence under the shadow Of the stars and stripes at
his residence
The party was composed Of about forty Americans
prominent among them Captain Pendergast, Of the
navy with his lady DR. Abbott and lady the daughter
of Mr. Fay minister to Switzerland , Or, Damont
and lady Rev Mr.. Clark, of the American Missionary
Society, located at Constantnope Captain yicht, Of
Philadelpha Mr. Miller tlic consul and Mr.. Mellon
ald vice consul at Hamburg Mr. Diier, consul at Bre-
men, and number Of Others, among them your occa~
sonal Correspondent composed principally however,
Of young gentlemen attending the Of lectures at
the University In Berlin More than half the States OF
the Union represented But the cowning interest OF
the day he presence Of the world wide honored and
worldwide distinguished naturalist historian, scholar
and traveller, Baron Aicsander Won Humboldt This
pleasure that few of anticipated, and IL
pleasure that who fortunats enough 70 enjoy
will forget TO get even glimpse Of the distin
guished Humboldt is what few travellers at this time
dare hope his great age with the inmities conse-
quent upon it, preclude the possibility OF his receiving
but few visitors and those only whose position In the
world OF science letters makes their acquaintance
able to the venerable scholar.
The dinner hour was fixed at five o'clock, and few
minutes before that hour the Baron leaning on the arm
of Gov Wright entered the parior OF the embassy He
remained standing until those present introduced
and then, seating himself, he was soon engaged IN %
lively conversation with the ladies Of the party AL
though he speaks English with remarkable aency yet
he prefers carrying conversation in French. AS
Mrs! Abbott tat rather bad pun) In that Ian
guage, is eofversed much with her learn that he Ii
eighty nine yedfs OF age, and certainly for man Of that
age he in most wonderful state Of preservation His
form is considerably bent but his eye Is bright
girls and his voice strong and full that Of man in
his prime His intellect Is still as clear and bright 40
the at noon-day He is hard student, and works
with untiring zeal upon the concluding part of the great
work of his life, Kosmos He dressed in loose
fitting suit of pain bac with large white neckcloth
passed loosely around his throat enyeloping the neck
high up under his He wore but single decoEae
tion--a large medal in the shape Of silver star.
need not attempt to describe the dinner sufco to
say 1t excellent and If those miserable sandccrs
who attempted TO decry the hospitality Of onE
popular minister by filing the newspapers ut home with
brcations in regard to the with which he treat
cd his guests had been present their cheeks would have
tinged with shame il they susceptible Of such feel
ing had they witnessed the generous cheer 70 which we
were invited The usual toasts drank with all the
horrors nd excepting the governor hmself not IN cold
water you After the regular toasts each
State called. upon, and the representatives thereof
either made short speech or rendered q sentiment
Three hours were thus delightfully."- passed at table, the
baron seeming highly delighted with the entertainment
Notwithstanding his great age he showed no symptoms
of fatigue, bt honered each toast with great slacry
He kept up animated conversation during the whole
time sometimes in French, sometimes in English; but
when he spoke in English every was silent in order
to catch every word that fell from his lips and at the
express in French being familiar with that Ian
guage the pleasure he had experienced In meeting with
so large number of Americans In foreign land in cele
bratng the anniversary of their national independence
He passed high eulogium country her greatness
and er institutions alluded to the pleasure with which
lie witnessed progress and to the pleasant days he
had spent in the country in 1905 when he was honored
with the friendship and society of the great apostle OF
liberty Thomas Jefferson and others of the distinguished
fathers Of the revolution and concluded by passing
high eulogium the personal popularity and character
Of our hospitable host, Gov. Wright
After repairing to the paror, he remained for some
time longer in conversation and leaving, every one
advanced and pressed the noble traveller hand with
many hearty wishes that his valuable life might long be
spared to the world. The Rev. Mr. Clark very justly
said in his remarks at dinner that he would rather be
able to say he had seen Baron Humboldt than to he
had seen every King Queen Emperor In the world,
sentiment in which sure every American present
heartily concrred Every present felt under addi
tona obligations to Coy Wright for the opportunity he
afforded us of enjoying for many hours the society OF
his distinguished guest And here cannot help saying
that every American who present. and every one who
has visited Berlin, know will join me in saying that
the news of the confirmation Of Gov Wright BY the Sem
e was received with the velies satisfaction As faron
Humboldt. himself has said she Is suniyersaily respect
ed and the President and the Senate did wisely when
they Indignantly owred upon the vile ISLANDERS that IN
terested parties had given publicity to- concerning ms Pc
nurousness and coldwater principles and time w prove
how deeply he wronged by such irresponsible sco
bers and meddlesome place-huncrs. 80 much ior the
4th of July in Berlin.