The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-28
Death OF Chevalier Bunsen.

The dangerous illness of this distinguish
ed diplomatist and scholar was announced by
our recent European advices, and by the
arrival of the steamer New York yesterday
morning, we hear that his death has taken
place at Bonn.
Chevalier Bunsen was born at Corbach,
in the German Principally of Waldeck,
Aug. 25, 1871 and was accordingly in his
seventieth year at the time of his death.
He received his academic educanion at the
Universities s,f Marlburg GottendeD, and
at the latter seat of learning was for sew
eral years pupil of the celebrated Heyne.
He continued bis studies in Holland and at
Copenhagen, in the latter place with a
special view to the acquisition of the Scan
dinavian languages. ln the year 1915, he
made the acquaintance of Niebuhr, the
eminent historian, at Berlin from which he
derived strong intellectual impulse, and
received direction in his studies, which re-
mained throughout the whole of his subse-
quent career. During the next year, be
devoted himself to the Oriental languages
under the guidance of Sylvester de Sacy in
Paris. Soon after, he repaired to Rome,
where he married the daughter of an Eng
lish Episcopal clergyman, and renewed bis
intimacy with Neibuhr, who was then the
Prussian Minister in that city. He be-
came his private Secretary, aided him in
his literary labors, and in 1916 was ap-
pointed Secretary of the Legation. Upon
the resignation of Niebuhr in 1924, he
was made Charge Affaires, and in 1927
became Minister of Prussia at the Pa
pal court. He remained in this position
for about ten years, when he became
Minister to the Swiss Federation. lu
l84l he was sent by his Government to
England to concert the establishment of a
Protestant bishopric in Jerusalem, and soon
after be was appointed Ambassador to the
court of St. James. He continued in this
Office until 1853, when he incurred the dis
pleasure of the King, resigned his diplomat
ic functions, and retired to private life, not
unthankful for the congenial leisure thus
afforded for the pursuit of his favorite
studies. Since that time his literary ac-
tivity was singularly productive. Devoted
to antiquarian researches, to the philosophy
of history, to doclrinal theology, and to
biblical lore, his volumnous writings attest
the wonderful extent of his eruditon, the
prodigious scope of his Investigations, and
the comprehensive liberality of his mind.
His great work on "Egypt's Place in Uni
versal History" his " Hyppo'ytus and His
Times," and "God 10 History" are monu-
ments of profound learning, critical saga
city, and philosophical thought, rare among
any class of scholars, and perhaps unpre-
cedented 10 one so intimately connected
with the politics and diplomacy of bis day.
He had been engaged for several years in
popular work on the Bible, embracing a
new translation, an elaborate commentary,
and critical and antiquarian dissertations, a
considerable portion of which has already
been published. Chevalier Bunsen had
strong attachment to England and English
literature several of her celebrated schol-
ars were among bis most intimate friends /;
but he never acquired the art of lucid
method and clear expression, which are
among the strongest necessities of the En-
glish mind. His writings, although show
ing such wealth of thought and learning
are like tropical wilderness in their luxu-
rance and confusion. They afford the
richest materials for the plastic hands of
more orderly scholars, but in their present
state are adapted to repel the most resolute
and patient explorers.-N. Y. Tribune.