Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-26
Death Of Humboldt.

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Humboldt, whose death is announced by the
Canada, was born in Berlin, September IA,
1869, and was therefore in his goth year when
he died. His earliest inclinations pointed to
the profession of a civil engineer in some de-
partment of the public service. lie was
placed, as most fitting bis prospects, if not his
tastes, in the Frieberg Mining School, after.
having creditably passed through the schools
of G~ottingen, Hamburg and others. In his
23d year he became Assessor to the Mining
Board, and then Director of the works at
Bairenth. Three years after his first official
appointment he wearied of duties which inter
fered with the studies which have immortal
lied his name. He therefore quilted the par
ticular service of his country, to enter into
erudite and glorious scientific inquiries in the
general service of the world.
Having explored what lay within his easy
reach at home, and having made good all the
theoretical knowledge he had acquired, he
quilted Prussia, first to examine the geologi-
ical and other features of the volcanic dis
tricts of Southern Europe, and then to extend
his travels through the wider fields of our W
country. The first Napoleon's wars were at
that time on the eve Of decimating all Europe,
and Humboldt had to forego, SO far as Europe
was concerned, his. naturalist exploring jour
ney because of this war. 1t is a noteworthy
coincidence that he has taken his final journey
to the eternal landshes was fond of contempla-
ting just as the third Napoleon's war was
about breaking out over the same regions.
Humboldt's successive misfortuaes, because
Of the unfavorable state of Europe in 1895,
threw him at length one slice of good luck, III
tho offanfion Of fha Gnanich Gauapnnopf
which gave him a commission to explore the
American possessions of that country. 1t only
wants a week or two of sixty years since the
great naturalist set sail for Corruna, and with
his Partisan made friend, Bonpand, succeeded
in escaping the vigilant cruisers of Britain,
and making good an exploring trip to Tener-
fife. On the 10th of July, 1899, they landed
in Venezuela at a spot close to Cumana. Hav-
ing completed their extensive Investigations in
that part Of the country. they proceeded to
other Spanish provinces, insular and continent
tai; travelling thousands of miles, they exte, :
ded their explorations southwark, partly from
a arrangement caused by weather and acct
dent to their original plans.
Havana, Carthagena, Bogoto and other pla-
ces were occasionally centers of their di
v%isional labors until 1902, when they went
to Quito, over the Cordillera di Quindin,
and along the Canean Valley. The ~valcanic
hills around Quito afforded constant employ.
mept to the active inquiries of Humboldt for
the larger part of the year, which inquiries
had a climax in a succussfnl ascent of Chin
borazo on the 23d of June, 1902. The emf
nence they then attained was set down in
Humboldt's journal at the time as 10, 900 feet,
but that estimate has since been reduced
to $4,000. This was the highest point ever
previously known to have been reached by
man. Humboldt continued his exploring ex-
petitions throughout the Andes, and the
thence outstretching regions, until the begin
ming of 1903, when he visited Mexico and
traversed it at every interesting point. Hay
ing secured a marvellous quantity of the ma
terlal information for which he had been all
his life athirst, he prepared to return home
A short visit to Philadelphia in 1904 compile
ted his journey of five years, for soon after
wards he sailed for Hayre, where he landed
in August of 1904.
Tire fdeilitiza whioL Paris thrr,,, as
since, afforded to the full prosecution Of all
such studies as he had made most ex' ensiye
provision for. tempted him to remain in that
city to arrange his treasures in zoology and
botany, and his Numerous facts in geography,
and statistics of every variety. No one had
ever previously added so much in bulk, or
value to the sciences as Humboldt was ena-
bled from his American travels to gather to-
gether. But the huge works which he then
began to arrange for publication are still in
complete SO far as their publication or even
printing is concerned. Those of them that
are printed, fetch the enormous sum. in parts,
of $500 each.
Satisfied with the progress of his scientific
endeaEors slow, though they necessarily were,
he left Paris for another Italian excursion.
and at length, in 1926, went to reside in his
native city. He was warmly welcomed by his
countrymen, and at once placed high in the
councils Of his king. The Gar of Russia in
duced this unweary traveller to quit his home
for another journey in the year 1929, when he
traversed Siberia and all the districts around
the Caspian Sea on TO the Chinese frontier,
and on their return nearly took in the whole
Russian Empire.
Placed again at home, Humboldt became
one of props of the State and the special adj
wiser of his sovereign. His later years were as
actively employed, age and circumstance con-
sldered, as his earlier, and no mar of his age
could lay larger claim, to the last of his life,
upon industry in action, frugality in living,
and all the modest characteristics which par
tain to the truly great man. To this industry
in declining years his Cosmos alone bears
ample evidence, and in all else his life's exam
pie was for a world to look at.