New-York daily tribune., 1859-05-19
DEATH OF HUMBOLDT.

The recent notices vi the gradual decline Ol luis
lustrous European philosopher have prepared the
public Cor the intelligence Of his decease, which is
announced as having taken place in Berlin on the
6th of MAY. Had he lived but few days more
than four months longer he would have completed
the ninetieth year of his age. His fame belonged
not only TO Europe, but to the world; and in this
country especially probably no man who was
known to us only through the medium of bis scien-
tifc writings Was held in equal reverence and ad-
miration The simple record of his life forms the
noblest monument to his memory. We need only
gather up the successive facts in his to show
that the IMAM Of the century" has been taken from
the world.
Friedrich Heinrich Alexander Won Humboldt
was born in Berlin, Sept. II, 1869. His father
who was man of military and civil distinction in
Prussia, died when his son was but ten years old,
but the latter still enjoyed the advantage OF sin
gularly careful education. He studied at Frank
fort-on-the Oder, at Berlin, and at G0ttngen de-
voting himself chiefly to the natural sciences, to
the Greek language and to the application of
science to the practical arts. Among his early in
structOrs n the former were Blumenbsch Beck
mann, and Lichtepberg. His university studies
were varied by excursions to the Harz Mountains,
and TO the vicinity of the Rbine which Occasoncd
the first-frus of his literary labors, in work en-
titled, 4" The Basalt on the Rhine" Q79O).
In the Spring and Summer of that year, accom-
panied by one or two congenil friends, he made
tour through Belgium, Holland, England, and
France The acquaintance of Sir Joseph Banks,
and the enthusiasm If one Of his companions, who
bad made voyage to the South Sea- awakened the
desire for visiting tropical regions and gave col
oring to his future life On his return from En-
gland. he passed some time at a commercial acad-
emy in Hamburg, with view Of engaging in the
pursuits of trade But his inclnatioss strongly
tended to the cultivation of physical science, and
in 1891. be repaired TO the School of Mines at
Freiberg, where he received private lessons from
the celebrated Werner, and enjoyed the friendship
of Leopold Won Buch. Freiesleben, and Del Rio.
His researches in this locality led to the prepsra-
ton of treatise on the fossil botany of Freberg,
which was published year or two later (l793.)
A larger work on the physiology of the nerves and
muscles 1797-99) attcsts the predominant ten
dency of his mind
The death Of bis mother in 1896 removed one Of
the obstacles to his cherished purpose Of grand
scientific expedition to the tropics. After pursuing
an extensive course of study in the application OF
astronomy to geography, and engaging In meteoro-
logical observations with Won Buch, be went to
Paris. where he first made the acquaintance OF
Bonpand, with whom he passed the Winter OF
| l79e in Madrid. This was. in fact, the turning
point of his life. Such favorable impression did
be make on the Spanish authorities, that he re-
ceived permission TO visit at pleasure any of the
Spanish possessions in America or the Indian
Ocean, with guaranty of the free Of his astro
nomical instruments, and of no restraint in the
collection Of specimens in natural science.
| In june, 1929, be embarked, in comp,ny with
Bonpland, for South America, and arrived a
| Cumana in the middle of July. The next eighteen
months were spent in an exploring tour through
Venezuela; apd in February, they left the sesco,st
| for the south. with view Of reaching the river
Apure and the Orinoco They passed over the
cstarscts Of Atures and Msypures in Indian canoes
TO For. San Carlos on Rio Negro, about two
degrees from the equator, and after weary
Journey through the wilderness, returned to the
Orinoco, of which they made the first exact scien-
tiic observation. From Cumsna, at which they
arrived in safety after their perilous excursion,
they sailed to Havana where they remained several