New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-08-18
BAYARD TAYLOR ON HUMBOLDT

Messrs. Rudd & Carleton of this city a7e about ~
ssue a carefully prepared life OF Alexander Humboldt.
o which the following Introduction by Mr. BsyAid
Taylor is prefxed;
4 biography Of Alexander Won Humboldt, which
shall contain full and conscientious account OF ha NO
and labor written in style suiiclen'y Gear oeu ua
technical TO meet the popular taste, hss wng oeen
necessity in our literature. Thoee biographies vi On
are already in existence DO not possess thus character:
thew s,e rather chronicles of bis achievements IN me
various departrnerts Of natural science than stores on
life almost unexamped for Its wealth OF sAPsnence,
Us labors and successes The Lives OF the Brothers
Hmm bolct by Kencke, which has been uanssted
into English, is very irsgmentsry IN TINS respect u
passes over unnoticed many episooes in .ue Ile ..
Aexar der Won Humboldt, which are OF g'eW iotete"s
IN the general reader In fact has only been IN tue
closing years of mis- life that tie excellence. OF AIS
character as man, apart from his distinction IS
sdron, have received fuI ana general a'Ano"iens
ment.
No task could have been pleassnter to me than that
Of semptng to bring home TO the familiar acqraint
ance Of the great reading pubic OF Toe noed c'~es
the history %. the grea, man, with whose nisndsh'p
was housred: and, the literary laoofs nae already
on hand prevented me from undertaking sach work,
il Il all the more gratifying to me to know thai IL nas
been faithfully ard conscientiousy done ny one every
way capable Of the performance. Having examined
the Biography which follows, can TESTIFY 10 us exact
ness anc Goa pcteness, and the Sub
eot of the boo its sufficient recommendation
CORDIALLY sccede TO the request OF the au,hor, tAat
should add few words of introduction, enbodyinS Ly
owt IMPRESSIONS of Humboldt $ character.
When first saw m he was in his e,ghtyelghta
wear but except in the bowed head and slow sep.
chow ed scarcely any sigrs of bodily decay por-
trait painted Leary forty years before, az "hich time
his hair already gray, showed that TUE had
occasion ed but little change IN his appearance WINE
it, only effect upon his mind was perhaps lack OF
tia. power of concentration which enabled him to
master many various departments OF nsui science
He stll every inch king with no faculty appre-
cirbly dnlled no sympathy bllnied no hope for the
ibcegse of human Wedge or generous aspiration for
the good Of bis kind less earnest than In his prime OF
life. A year later found bin broken, indeed, IN
bodily hcslth yet sl capable OF sixteen hours OF con-
tuuou mental labor ana his lsst letter to me, wtsd
but q short tine before hs death, betrayed no sgn of
falling faculties though the hand which traced 1t was
evi identity weak AID irem ollg.
In tie castle at Tegel where ne was born, aud IN
the park OF which ne now sleeps beside his brother,
hangs portrait of him. painted IT the age oi r. he
is there represented as mao OF rather lees ths tae
nedium stature, but firmly and symmetrcslly butt,
with full keen ardent face firm lips clear blue eyes,
and thick lock Of Chestnut hair, clustering about ys
square massive brow lie wears a green coat knse-
breeches and heavy ciosk lined with red lie rep
presented as leaning against rock on slope OF .ne
AIDES the snowy dome OF Cbim0orazo ming up tao
of the picture la comparing this picture
with 6s living presence found that the shoulders had
stopped, leaving the head bent forward as weighed
down by the burden Of it, universal knowledge tho
hair had grown snow white, and somewhat thinner;
the mouth had lost its clear sharp outline, and the
eager energetic expression OF the face was gone but
-
the kin as fair smooth, and rudy, almost, a. that &
young man. 49,
The first impression produced by Humbodts face
YVES that of its thorough humanity The blood which
fed ME restless brain never weakened the pulsatons VI
his human beat. Beneath that devotion 10 science
which be illustrated by the abors Of 10 years burned
steadily and unwaveriDgy the flame Of sympathy for
bis kind. Probably no man who ever lived has given
aid and encouragement to so great number of aspir-
ing and deserving men. l know instances OF persons
in humble life having sought his assistance for them
selves their friends and in no case was 1t refused
The applicants returned from the interview cheered,
inspired and full of aectiOnate venerasion for the man
who, in the midst of his immense labors, could yet
give an hour to Themselves and their plans. No
rational appeal 70 him was sighted and the vast
influence which he possessed, in his later years, was
always exered 10 the behalf Of science and her earnest
yotarics.
Jealousy of his ellow-aborers formed part Of his
nature. His enthusiasm was too pure and ardent to be
alleged by any personal consideration. Not his own
famenot his supremacy an observer Or theOrizer
but the advancement of human knowledge, the dis
cOycry Of grand general laws the footsteps OF God In
the creatiOn-was his aim and his ambition. What
he has done not to be measured by his own ndivid
ua achievements: the generous impulse which he has
given to others cannot be estimated The vast results
which have followed scientific research, since the CON-
mencement Of this century, were Initiated BY his
ple he pointed out TO others the tracks which he
could not himself follow, and even when acknowledged
a. leader, hesitated ~ labor with the hunbea.
In this respect, his character presents almost ideal
excellence.
The lesson of Humboldt life l. not without its spo-
cial significance at the present day. when the thIst
for wealth, and place, ana power seems hotter and
feroer than With the advantages Of his birth
and inherited position, many paths Of advancement
were opened TO him. but he dsdained them all, sao
r6cing everything to his love Of knowledge
until finally, in his old age honors such no states
won were laid "a voluntary offerings at bis
ieet The indifference with which he regarded them
showed how little such rewards had entered into his
plan of life. Yet though the acknowledged equal Of
kings he seduced by the plendors of courts
to forget his character "a q man whore sympathies
with the people rather than their rulers So well
were his political predictions Understood among
Congress Of Verona, OF which he was q mem
Der, when he proposed come temporary meas
ure which had arbitrary character, the + n
peror Alexander l. Of Russia, turning TO him,
said in tone of mock reproach: "And is 1t you arch
Republican you are, VIII propose this despohc mea
sure :" This incident was related to me by liumoeldt
hmself, during my last interview with him. One can
therefore understand the depth Of tha esteem et Tor
him by the present demented king of Prassa' when
the latter introduced Humboldt 10 the Emperor FRANZ
Joseph of Austria, at Prague, some four or hvs years
| ago, HIS iesutcal majesty asked: Who is the
| Baron Won Humboldt, that you present him to mo
| with 30 much empressementl have never heard oil
| him "Not heard of him ~ exclaimed the king in
| honest amazement; "why, he IL the greatest man
| since the Deluge"
the prosecution Of his travels and the publication OF
his works and during the latter years Of his life he
was entirely dependent upon his diplomatic pension,
| and the copyright Of his "kosmos." To my friend
HeiBe, the artist he sent his own copy 1.-THE original
editiop of his Vues dcs C0rdteres" containing
OF his marginal notes. On earnr that the same gen
tleman bad been obliged 10 60 10 America through his
connection with the events Of lSS, he prevailed upon
the King of Prussia TO grant him the Order Of the Red
Ease-through which recognition the official ban was
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