Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-03

terest to the story OF Humboldps Life and Charac
ter as told In the eloquencs Of hearty admiration
and faith.
The lecturer began by remarking that between
the pbenomena Of the physical and the human
cOsmas we find many curious parallels that Ia
both realms there are periods In which the crea
tive energies seem to slumber, and some 10 which
they exert themselves in splendor. As the aloe
Is popularity supposed to rest for nlnetynins years
and 10 the hundTeth to burst into blossom, So Of
ten, the mind of century bursts into esorescencs
aud nature atOues for her seeming sleep by the
sudden exertiOn Of great vital forces. Grear
minds dawn upen the world in consultations
Sometimes 3 single year gives birth to the mel
who shall give character to the century Such q
year was l7T6. In that year were bern Cuvier
Walter Scott, Wellington, Napoleon and AleXsn'
der Won Humboldt. All OF these were great; but
while he would not attempt to contrast them, be
wOuld say that the life of Humboldt presented q
grandeur and symmetry which none of the other
can show. Fortunate circumstances attended his
Infancy. His first teacher was the translator Of
DefOs's Robinson Crusoe, and one Of the eompan
Ions of Capt Cook. The companionship of this
man stimulated his early childish desires to travel
over the world and examine all its beauties and
features.
By his twelfth year he had mastered bOtomy and
hs saw that one science is but a single dOrr to the
great temple Of nature, and he must possess the
keys Of all, Science after science became the
successive objects of his study. He had been born
at a favorable period for natural science. The
rubbish Of superstitiOns were passing away, and
the earth was golden with a harvest Of unreaped
knowledge. humboldt commenced by being Jack
OF all sciences and ended by being master Of all In
his capscOus net he caught all fish, and the secret
OF his success lies in his zeal energy and force Of
will,
He studied in GOttnigsn and jena, and then vis-
tied England where he was present at the trial of
Warren Hastings. After travelling in the north of
Europe he sought to carry out his great idea of
general survey of the eartb with special research
in the tropical regions. Having met with many
disappointments, he at length, in company with
Bonpland, departed for South America in l799.-
The record of this voyage is one of the most re-
markable narratives Of scientific zeal. He ad-
mired the beauty of the waves, but be lowered his
thermometer to ascertain its temperature He
loved the bright sky, but did not forget to take
cyOnmenter to ascertain the depth of the Ilue ex>
Panse. Only once did he forget science while
contemplating beauty. That was when, from the
western slope of the Andes, he saw the Pacific in
all its magnifCsnee, and he absolutely forgot to
take the altitude above the sea.
Ha had wonderful felicity Of description of
the beautiful and gorgeous. Mr.. Taylor never
read his description of certain cataract withou,
feeling the spray in his face, or those of the TrOp
ical forests without hearing the rustic of the
leaves.
This South American journey consumed twenty
years flabor and nearly all Of HumboldPs for
turne, but he determined to explore the inmost 70.
giOns of Central Asia. Circumstances, however,
this until too late, which he regretted
to his death.
Only common men, said the lecturer, work out
their own ideas. Great men look forward to q
goal that they can never reach. HumboldPs
scheme was not only the survey of the whole
earth, but the discovery Of the laws which regu-
ate Its existence. Had his life and powers al
lowed, he would have studied Central Asia; be
would have vrested the secrets of Africa; the
eading features of physical geography would then
lave been In his possession, and from the height
VI his vast experience overlooking every realm of
physical science, he would have RtriVeL to COM
9rshend the secrets Of that Divine wisdom to
which the whole order Of creation moves. Shallow
'lgots shave endenvored to discredit the man be-
,suss his devotion was too profound to be demon
itratiVe. An American newspaper has said that
ais Cosmos is a world without God. What would
hey have7 A God without a world? Because
here is nothing in botany to substantiate infant
baptism, in the paloesic rock no evidence of
heaven, and only hints of purgatOry in the chsmi.
'al gases, they denOunee all science as atheism.
When the lecturer last saw him, he showed him
D chameleon in box, and directed Mr.. Taylor's
attention to its projecting eyes Zone of the erea-
ares peculiarities, said he, sis that it can look
wO ways at once: it can lift one eye to Heaven,
While it keeps the other on the earth and there
Ire many clergymen who pre- sent the same faculty.
When he lay on his death-bed, the dreary pail
which had covered the sun, parted moment, and
he sun burst suddenly into the room. "HoW
ylorious,' he muTmured, "are those rays They
eem to call earth to heaven" They did call earth
o heaven-Le never spoke again
Humboldt had remarkable memory Of WhateV-
IT he had seen. One qualification was in store for
lim which be died too soon to enjoy His de
icriptiOn of tropical scenery inspired Church to
ollOW in his footsteps, and the artists picture Of
The Heart of the Andes, was painted with the de-
ggn and hope that Humboldts eyes might rest
Upon it.
The prominent traits Of his character were sim
plicity and sincerity. The stars and crosses con-
erred upon him by all the Courts of Europe, were
ound alter his death, in old closet, covered With
lust. He had the hOnors, the admiration and love
'f all the world In personal appearance, he was
every inch a king" He had little muscular
strength, but great tOughness of constitution.
The lecture closed with an eloquent tribute to
he great naturalist.
His fortune was like Abou Ben Adhem in Leigh
Hunts beautiful poem; bis unsslash labOrs have
1t least placed his name first on the list of the sci
entiac men Of the world. How the fancied sue.
,esses of selfish men fade away in the eternal sun
'hine of a name like his The wonderful material
universe to which he gave his life, now perpetuates
ais glory. The palms of the tropics which waved
around his bier, viii keep bis memory forever
green. Rivers and bays, wales and mountains, and
glaciers of Arctic Zee rejoice to bear his name
The peaks Of Chimbornzo re echo it and where
he asteroids wind their orbits beyond the sphere
Of Mars, the planet Of Alexandra chauuts it tri-
in the chorus Of the stars.
HEAVY ROBBERY.-Mr. W. D. Morrison, com.
mission merchant, went to the Post Office yester-
lay afternoon, to purchase some stamps. While
.aklng them, he laid his pocket book, containing