Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-21

Death of Baron Hum boldt.

The Canada brings us news Of the death
of the venerable Baron Won Humboldt, the
great German naturalist and philosopher.
/ The Baron was born in Berlin, September
I 18th, 1863, and was consequently IN the
! Goth year Of his age at his death The Phil
adelphia American, in giving sketch OF his
| life, says:
Humboldt was Of an ancient, noble fami-
! ". his father having been high officer, and
/ "A favorite in the military service of Prussia,
under Frederick the Great. His elder bro
| ther. William. born in l7GI, attained great
/ literary and political emnence in Germany,
and, indeed, in all Europe, being at one time
minister to England, and subsequently TAX
! Ing a strong stand rs minister of State for Il
constitutional government in Prussia. This
was in ISIS and 1919 ut one of those periods
which have opened with promise for liberal
institutions in Germany, 10 close, 80 far, IN
reaction and misfortune. lie attacked the
despotic Carlsbad DEGREES of the German
| Diet of 1919, with extreme sharpness and
severity, alarming Austria aud the despotic
party of all Germany. and for this course, in
which he was supported by his brother Alex
auder. he was forced to retire from the min
| istrv ut the close of 1919. William died in
! 1885. having devoted his latter years to his
! tory and literature.
/ During the twenty-five years since his elder
brothers death. Alexander has received all
the honors and testimonials of confidence
from the people and government of Prussia,
which were before that time divided between
them. He has held the post of Privy Coun-
cillor of Prussia since 1899, and has contin-
ued 10 receive every testimonial of political
and personal respect which the ruling family
( could confer Though never taking the ac-
tive part which his brother took on the libe-
raj side. he has always testified his attach
ment to constitutional government. From
the date of his first visit u the United States,
in l>O4, on his return TO Europe from South
America, he has omitted no opportunity TO
express his high regard for our institutions,
as well ~ our people, and in lS4S, he was
| confidently looked 10 for support of the new
order which the weakness of the republicans
of Europe then failed 10 establish.
humboldt spent two or three months in
this city and Washington. in the early part
of lSO4, visit devoted, rs he himself says.
10 the study of our political institutions. 1t
is not an unwarrantable conclusion that the
strong stand taken by both the brothers for
constitutional government, a few years later,
in Germany, was the result of these invest-
CATIONS. But Alexander Humboldt was
never willing to exercise decisive political
power, considering, probably, that he was
represented BY his brother in that depart
ment and that his tavorte field OF invest
CATION in physical science was ample work
for one mind. The foundation Of his great
final work entitled the Kosmos, wae laid in
an extended course of lectures as early as
1927, and its peculiar character deserves a
more extended notice than we have space
for here.
There isa singular completeness and full
ness in the life of Humboldt, which makes
his death appear but as slight change.
Held in high and afiectionate regard a. he is,
his admirers everywhere have become accus-
toned to the gradual attenuation of his ply
steal frame, without associating with him
any idea of intellectual decay. In his libra
~ an imperishable statue should succeed to
his personal presence, and every scene should
be preserved unaltered. as shrine to which
lovers Of nature may forever turn with rev.
ernncp ~