The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-26

tanning this mournful news, sent thrill OF
sadness along the electric pulses Of the wes-
tern hemisphere wherever genius has an ad-
mirer, or science devotee.
This event for which the apprehensions
Of the European letter-writers have for some
time prepared us, took place at Berlin,
probably about a fortnight ago although the
date is not transmitted FREDKRIcK HEN.
RY ALEXANDER, BARON of HuxBoLr, was
born at the beautiful city Of Potsdam, about
sixteen miles from Berlin, on the l4th day
Of September, 1863. He was therefore
aged 80 years and months at the time Of
his decease, having nearly completed the
full circle Of that century, which has been
chiefly illustrious as the age of scientific
achievement from having been illunned BY
his name.
The influential position and immense
wealth OF his father, BARON VoN HunBoLDr,
an officer in the household of the Prussian
King, and Major in the Prussian Army,
opened to ALEXANDER HUMBOLDT and to
his elder brother WILLIAM, any career Of
official distinction which they might have
chosen.
The two brothers pursued their studies
together at Berlin, at Frankfort on the
Oder, and then at GotteDgen. Hence their
paths diverged.
"ALExASDER," says the biogrspher of the
two brothers, addressed himself TO natu-
raj science in its widest sense, WILLIAM, to
classical antiquity art, philosophy and Ian
guage." WILLIAM, the friend Of SCHILLER,
entered into the career of politics and after
rendering important diplomatic services to
his country, died some twenty years ago, we
believe. ALEXANDER sought higher i'm
mortality in the domain to which he had
consecrated himself from the first, and he
lived to receive the homage Of four genera
tons who, lifted each on the shoulders of the
other have not yet reached the height OF
bis commanding wisdom. The history Of the
ninety years which has witnessed the career
of HUMBOLDT, has evolved more great names
and great achiev ements than any other pc
riod in the known annals of the world. Nef
yer has mind moved at so swift pacl
never did man move SO swiftly never wa
such tremendous forces, with such fertilee
vention, such accommodating command OF
physical and moral agencies. Born arhe
commencement Of this era OF revolutS IN
the material and intellectual world, l1Ex-
AMBER Voy HuxBoLDT has alwat kept
ahead Of the swift forces harnessoto the
world behind hm-kept ahead witgeln and
lantern in his hand.
In the chaos Of the revolutions ~ surged
around him, in the infatuatons new ideas,
10 the frantic decisions of hereditary preJu-
dices, in all that terrible conh1o the new
and old, out Of which new law and modes oil
thought, new sllegiances, new formulas, and
new compromises between God and the
Devil, have been CONSTRUCTED, the calm, wide,
sefensphered mind Of the yhlosophic Hun
BoLDr remained undisturoed. In THIS Ter
ment Of society and Of mind, emanclPated
from dogma. but abandoned to passions
or to dreams, lluNBoLDr was rare
among the men who could witness and
sympathise, and yet in the midst OF the
tumult collect and arrange the elements Of
transcendant systems. He has undoubtedly
done more for science than any living or dead
man. He stands in the same relation TO
physical science in general as LsSAErs to
the particular branch Of botany. He was
Is minute and accurate in specific obssrva
tions a. he was comprehensive in classical
ton. As subtle in analysis a. be was pro-
found in generalization, be was not only The
first sapan Of his age, but he represented IN
his person the triumphs Of oil the sciences
His great work, the Cosmos which
integrates the results OF his labors IN the
whole domain Of science, represents the
many sided Ca,holicity Of bis genius and
illustrates the grandeur, depth and acute
ness Of his views, while it exhibits the
miuutenes and multiplicity OF his observs-
tions.
1t il impossible to follow HurBoLor in
those wonderful voyages Of discovery and
observation which first elevated physical
geography to the rank Of scence. hs
6rst travels were along the Rhine 70 hoI'
land and England, which gave rise to bis
6rs, book-" Observations 90 the Basalt,
on the Rhine" 10 1872 be- was appointed
oyersesr Of the mines Of Frsnconia here
his Inventive genius was tasked, and be pro-
d,oei his second book. This dice, after
holding il three years. he resigned and ,rav