Des Arc citizen., 1859-06-01
RaRnN HUMBOLDT.

Intelligence has reached us, from Eu- rope, of the death, on the 30th ot April last, of the philosopher of worldwide celebrity, Baron FREDERICK HENRY ALEXANDER Vow HUMBOLDT. The Baron was born September IA, 1769 he was consequently eighty-nine years and four months old. Fears that his valuable life would soon cease have existed for some months, m con sequence of uufavorable accounts brought over at various times by the mail steamers; but although old age was making Its in- roads, the assaults were gentle. A lie of temperance had secured exemption from the usual feebleness of age, and up to the last accounts received of him he was con iinuing, with unabated interest. his import ant studies, and was daily making additions to his deathless treasure of philosophy, and profound and extensive study, the Cosmos. The intelligent of every cline under the skies will feel pang of grief on learning that the gifted, amiable, and virtuous Alexander Humboldt, has gone where even his knowledge will be as nothing before the Infinite.
 Baron Von Humboldt was the second son of Baron Alexander George Von Humboldt, of Prussia, and his mother was the Baroness Von Holweda. His elder brother was William Won Humboldt, who was distinguished as statesman. Few men have acquired the reputation as trav- elers which was attained by the subject of this paragraph. His published accounts contain so much of philosophy that they have never become obsolete, his first ones being still referred to and read with interest. His active labors as traveller commenced near the close of the eigh- ,eenth century, his primitive design being to visit and exp lore the northern portions of Africa but he yielded to circumstances and If obstacles arose in one direction, he would take another, always choosing those routes where great boldness of mind wa: a prerequisite, and where the material: would afford the greatest scope to profound scientific investigation. In 1799 he Wa: upon the Island of Tenerife investigating its sublime mysteries. Before the close of that year he was upon American soil
 first in the southern portion of the conti nent, and afterwards in the northern DOT ton. He visited Cumana, Panama, Lima Mexico, Havana, Vera Cruz, and nume- rous other places, upon islands, as we'll as upon the continent, ascending the highes mountains, as well as exploring the mine. ral depths which enterprise had laid open
 in all instances making scientific lnvestl gations in botany, zoology, geology, and elhnography. Subsequently he trod the soil of Italy, England, Russia, Siberia anc numerous intermediate as well as more remote localities The result of so muct physical toll and judicious inquiry has made vas, additions to the libraries o physlcal science. His published travels have been voluminous and profound: the most popular of his publications being Cosmos, written in the evening of life, 1T | which he contempates all created things as linked together and forming one whole animated by internal forces. We canno read his productions without feeling some glow of the ardor by which he was eve animated. We see him, in imagination standing on the highest points of the Cor dlleras, or the Altai, and looking dowr into the realms of nature, gazing dowr into the depths of the ocean, or looking uI to the expanse of heaven, like an inspired prophet. His activity makes him appea like sun of science, which sheds its ray' over the whole earth, and everywhere ex cites, fertlizes, and inspires science.-- 1 I Memphis Appeal.