True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-17
Baron Won Hnmholt.

eHce' ae the royal palacei FU1uani
Prussia. It took place in October last.
The following account, extracted from
the letter of Mr., Taylor. will be of inter-
est to our readers:
was glad when the clock struck twelve
at last, and I could leave the rattling
streets for that quiet corner of the palace
in which Humboldt lives The door was
opened, as before. by Seifert, who recog-
nised me at once. "Welcome back !"
he cried; 1--WE know where you have
been-we have read all your letters!-
His excellency has been quite sick, and
you will not find him SO strong as he was
last year, but he is in tolerable health
again, thank God Come in, come in
he is waiting" Opening the door as he
spoke, he ushered me into little library.
on the threshold of which Humboldt who
has risen received me. He was slightly
paler than before, little thinner, perhaps,
and | could: see that his step was not so
firm but the pale.blue eye beamed as
clear an intelligence as ever, and the voice
had as steady and CHEEKY tone. He
shook hands with The cordiality of friend
and after the first greetings were over,
questioned me minutely concerning my
travels in the North.
But one topic soon suggests hundred
others, and he wassere long roaming at
large over the whole field of geography
and climatology, touching the farthest and
darkest regions of the earth with the light
of his stupendous knowledge. The sheets
of the new volume of Cosmos lay upon
the table. "Here is what have been
doing, since you were here BEFORE" said
he, taking it up 1.-The work will be pub
lished in two or three weeks" "You
find yourself, then, still capable of such
labor :" ven:ured TO ask. "Work is
now part of my life said he; II sleep
so little and much rest would be irksome.
Day before yesterday, worked for six
teen hours, reviewing these Sheets" care
you not greatly fatigued," I asked, "after
such an exertion?" "On the contrary"
he replied, Il feel refreshed, but the per-
formance of it depends greatly on my
state of bodily health. l am unconscious
of any mental fatigue" AS saw in the
face, and heard in the voice, Of the splen-
did old man, all the signs of sound, un-
failing intellect, could we'll believe it.
had prlaed myself little on having
worked with the brain fifteen hours day
for six months, yet here was Humboldt,
in his eighty ninth year, capable of an
equal exerlion.
The manner in which he spoke of his
bodily health, was exceedingly interesting
to me. His mind, full of vigor, and over
flowing with active life, seemed to con-
slider the body as something independent
of itself, and 10 watch, with curious eye,
its gradual decay, az he might have
watched that of a tree in ~his younger
days. 81 have been unwell through the
Summer, said he, "but you must not be-
lieve all you may have seen IN the news
papers concerning my illness. They
stated that was attacked with opoplexy,
but it was only vertigo, which soon left
me, and has not been followed by any Of
the usual effects of apoplexy. One result,
however, shows tha! my body is begin
ming to give way. have not the same
power Of controlling my limbs as former
Iy; the will does not seem to act upon
the muscles, there is link broken some-
where, which it is probably too late TO
restore. For instance, : very often, when
I attempt to walk straight forward, l do
not feel certain that my legs will carry
me in straight line ; they may 60 either
to one side or the other; and, though |
cannot notice any real want of strength,
| feel uncertain and mistrust(ul. For this
reason, must have assistance when l 60
up or down stairs. After all, it is not
singular that some parts of the machinery
should get rusty, at my age" Soon af-
terward, while speaking of Thibet, he
referred to a very fine copperplate map,
and / noticed that he saw the most mi
mute names distinctly, without the aid of
spectacles. But then he has the eyes of
youth of 20 years. Age may palsy his
limbs, but it has never looked out of those
windows.
After had been sitting an hour, Seilert
came to the door and said, "The two
gentleman have come-shall l admit
them!" | rose to leave but Humboldt
said, mo, no-remain. They are from
Hong perhaps you know them"
looked at the cards, and recognized an
acquaintance in the name of an editor oil
a Hong paper. The other was a
Government official. After they entered,
the conversation took a more general
tone, but was not sorry for this after
ward, as it gave Humboldt occasion tC
recall some scenes of his early life. One
of the visitors spoke of Frederick the
Great. al remember him WE'LL" said
Humboldt was l6 years old when he
died. and can see his face still as plainly
as can see yours. | was but ls when
visited England for the first time. twas
during the trial Of Warren Hastings,
which I frequently attended. remem.
Der that heard Edmund Burke, PITT
and Sheridan, all speak on the same
night"
shall not repeat his account Of the
Congress of Verona, or his anecdotes o.
Alexander |. of Russia, whom he knew
intimately, as am not certain whether
have right 10 do so at present. Aftel
the visiters left, l remained with him un
i'll it was time for him to prepare for the
dinner given 10 Alexander H., to which
he was hidden. "You will pass through
Berlin on your way to Moscow - said he
eyes" ."-"Well-I must be polite enougl
to live until then. You must bring your
wife with vou oh. I know all about il