New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-13
HUMBOIDTS LETTERS
NO. l..
VRoM AS OCCASIONAL CoRRRsPONpENTI

MI
Humboldt to the Chevalier Bunsen winch were ISL
sned in Berlin on the day of the centennial ceieOTa-
ton nresent many features of interest Yhleh may
oseiLIv challenge the attention of portion OF yOnr
Teaders They are contained IN a neat golhne OF
over two hundred pages aud comprise all the letters
of Humboldt that were found among the papers OF
Raron Bunsen after his death. The editor one OF
the accomplished sons Of Bunsen, who now occupies
an honorable civil post IN Berlin under tiie y rus
sian Government, and is himself distinguishes
man Of letters has reproduced the correspondence,
OH the side Of Humboldt, with verbal exactness aga
ing only few brief explanatory notes, where tho
tonic appeared TO require more complete eucidatoh'
I'm a singularly modest postscript to the Voluhe'
Mr. Bunsen refers 10 the attempts which nave peeN
made to throw a cloud over the relations OF MS
father with Humboldt doubtless abiding TO the cor
respondence of the latter with YaTnhagen Won Ense'
in which opinions are occasionally thrown OUT IN
the ardor of confidential epstoary intercourse, 70
tho dispara cement of Bunsen. This is easily ex-
planned by the fact that with all his nobleness OF
character and serene devotion to scientific pursuits
Humboldt vas not free from the humors of the mo-
ment he had an exctable nervous temperament,
and was sensitive TO the action of ''skyey intiu-
ences :" like most of studiOus habits and re-
Elective cast of mind, he subject 20 despondlng
moods; and in these fits of depression. ne was
apt to look at everything with jaundiced
eye; man delighted him 10 not nor woman
either, and the brave, exchanging armament
became only q collection of pestilental yapors'
At such times, his most intimate friends did not
escape severe and almost petulant criticism when
by no means expressed his habitual feelings The
superhuous candOr of his comments was largely due
to the cbildlike simplicity of his character lie had
10 reserves no after-thoughts no secret plothg anu
planning no purposes 10 conceal beneath clOud OF
words; but laid bare the impressions OF the hour 10
his familiar friends with the freedom of solloqny
At all events after reading this volume no one can
doubt the sincerity the ardor of his attachment 70
Bunsen..A few Casual expressions representing the
within Of the moment cannot set aside the uniform
tenor of these letters, which cover period of more
than forty years. They present lovely example OF
a friendship between two illustrious men, without
pretenson or afFectaton, not founded official re-
lations but inspired by inward sympathy, nourished
by a profound mutual reverence, and sustained
through q long series of years without chill or
cloud. a4 -FF ' 3-
Embracing the whole of Humboldts correspond
ence with Buhsen many of the letters in this volume
are OF course on matters of little permanent inter
est relating to the casual topics of the day, discuss
ing points which have now become obsolete and
crticlsing the actions and measures OF public men
who have long since passed Oft the stage and
have given, place to a new generation which
petual attraction, however in the light which
they throw on .tthe character of the writer, il
Illustrating not only the genial kindliness and afec-
tonate sympathies of his nature but the course OF
his intellectual development, and the conclusions OF
his study and. thought on various questions OF lit
crary and philosophical significance
HIS friendship for Bunsen is expressed
in the peryading tone of the letters rather
than in any special demonstrative illusions, al
though there are occasional bursts OF adj
mIration and affection, which to our hereditary In
glsh GOODNESS might seem extravagant, bat which
are in perfect keeping with the more cordial and
enthusiastic German nature. Thus, at the age OF Co.
he writes apropos of some proposed changes in the
staff of the Berlin University: :" deeply lament
that YOU cannot now remain with us. 1t possible
that both of us in many opinions aud lnelnatlons
may find some differences to arrange. But such IN
settled regions of thought and feeling never sepa-
rate me from friends never produce feeling OF cold
ness towards then, when, in your case, they can
place the highest intellectual gifts and truly noble
disposition in the opposite scale. Every day. my
brother and myself lament your absence and wish
that we may both live TO see the time when YOU my
dear friend may enter into high sphere OF action.
We both of Us rejoice inexpressibly in your archa-
illogical activity. We hear from all travellers OF the
appreciation which it finds especially in regard to
your admirable Reports las Secretary Of the Gerhard
Archaeological Institute at Rome, where Bunsen was
then residing as Prussian EmbassadorJ To the
Egyptian researches yod can give an earnest and
profound direction. WilkiBsons 'Thebes,' which
have lust read interesting it is shows that the
mere application of the phonetic Interpretation of
hierogyphics win not greatly enlarge the circle OF
ideas, 1,5r 1l. .., ea..- .I- r. I.- -.
The year after (1S36) Humboldt gives vent to the
desponajng humor Of which there are frequent in
stances in the conTse of the volume A" Everything
here lPotsdapl is TO me dark, and gloomy and un-
ENJOYABLE. Oh that with age, one did not become
colder to the higher interests OF the national lie
All is dreary around me, 90 dreary, that one cannot
understand why / lament. Could but only live
with you lew months before my death, which as
now near at hand Upon the publication of the
frstvolume of Bunsens Egypt IN 1914, ne thus
writes: 1.-THE treasures. my honOred friend, are in
nv hands / have locked them mp with my Cos
mos' ahdmy other most important papers. have
no words to thank you sufficiently for your conf.
denOe and your friendship. How have You beauti-
fed the last evening for u.s. 1t win be long before
the remembrance of it can pass away. / am de-
lighted with the earnest and elevated tone of the
Introduction. know nothing of greater historical
Importance than what you have accomplished 1t
is Of the ntmost value that we tread frInly
especially in a monument, for which You have been
celebrating the leading ideas since 1857 ,L .
The appearance of the second volume in the fol-
lowing year calls forth more extended criticism, in
which among several special details, Humboldt
writes {" 1t is an admirable. weighty universally
profound. and convincing work, your Egypt 1t
gives me delight, because have The weakness TO
wish thai those, whose talent have early reoog,
nized and honored should produce something great.
In this W avy mutual support is afforded and the