New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-20
HUMBOLDTS LETTERS.
,rnnu ,r nccAs1or,L coRREsPONDENTl

hIavorder Won Humboldt to the Cheyalier Bunsen,
Of which l have given you 8 snght account
IN a previous letter, the second edition OF
little volume entitled 90 Correspondence and Oeh-
yersations of Alexander Won Humboldt with 1oans
Friend was published in Berlin on occasion Oh inc
centennial anniversary. The first edition OF tliS
work was lsSued in 1850, the year after HumbOldt
death, and although from scruples OF modeS'5 INC
name Of the editor was withheld, doubt mas oeen
thrown on the authenticity of its contents %hich
indeed afford convincing proof ftheir truthianeSs
m their internal character At the commencement
of his aeouaiatance with Humboldt, the editor was
student in the University of Bonn, and the casu"i
intercourse vhch took place between them uuiinS
a visit of the young TO relatives IN the vicinity
of Potsdam, soon Tipened into trlehdIy lhIildoy'
Humboldt received the enthusiastic student WHOSE
admiration fell little short of dolatry, with MS usuai
Observation-Disclosures He conversed with him freely
on many IMPORTANT topics, expressed ms OPINIONS OH
,ar;.ty a. delicate questions without disguise, and
appareKtly took the young man INTO ms lnuinaIe
confidence The latter was so impressed by the con-
y.rs,tions that he formed the habit of recording
then, in "A notebook from which are derived the
,ea:er mart of the materials of the present volume
or e letters which it contains few have any special
Intarest consisting manly of brief notes with refer
ence TO theyiss of the editor and other matters OF
merely personal concern. The intercourse extends
over period of eight years. from 1915 to 1885, about
threo wears before the death of Humboldt, when 1t
was broken Oft by the removal of the editor 10 En-
gland where he resides. The volume, which
has never so my knowledge, been translated INTO
English IS Of course, inferior IN interest and Vane
20 the correspondence with Bunsen although 1T per
iectly harmonizes with that in the illustration which
II affords of the noble and attractive traits IN hum
bOdts character
The first interview took place in September, 1913,
In the royal palace at Potsdam. At this time, Hum
boldt was about entering upon his eightieth year
The eager visitor found him in spacious, we'll
shaded room. pleasantly lighted bya wide bow-win-
dow-the furniture of the simplest description,-a
few portraits in the Renaissance style on the wals-
large and small tables, covered with books, maps,
and rseverything showing at first glance, the
apartment of scholar,-and at a writing table, near
the window sat Humboldt, busily employed with his
pen. He had on a, dTess-oOat andSwhite neckcloth,
~ was his custom, when expecting a visit. Without
noticing the natural embarrassment of his guest he
beckoned him to a Sofa took chair by his side and
at once engaged in conversation. The discourse fell
at first on the German Universities and Humboldt
gave bis opinion frankly the respective merits of
several distinguished professors. OF the celebrated
historian DahlmaDn, whose political relations caused
his removal from prOfesSOrshp III GOttingen he re-
marked "DahlRann should never have left his
chair in to University lie has greatly injured him
self by his political action. His System of Politics.
which. cts Itha normal constitution after the I'm
Glish model, has by that very fact something all
normal For to elevate the constitution of nation
TO the rank of ideal is TO ignore the necessary his
torcal notifications and TO certain extent to call
In question the importance of the peculiar develop
ment of every nationality. The English constitution
especially with all the conspicuous elements OF free
dom which it may embOdy. is still essentially an in
sulaT, oceanic product which can be Only partially
initiated by the Continental States which rather
of volcanic origin" The conversation afterward
turned on subjects of little general interest, till
towards its close. when Humboldt took leave of his
xsitor with some personal details. In reply to the
wish of the young man. that he might long retain
his present vigor of mind and body. Humboldt
marked: Yes, one must hold on to youth. To be
always young is what we all strive for. In 1850.
shall be eighty years old. My responsibilities to the
King still continue But yet usually work till two
OF three o'clock in the morning, with almost unnter
rupted good health. few weeks ago. sent one
and half thick volumes to the press. Nor do the
ngitatiOns of the time restrain me from work
ing. Most persons alarmed by what has
taken place. / am not. / long since fOresaw what
has come TO pass; only cOnld WISH that it had
happened in different manner Concessions should
have been commenced, seven or eight years ago.
not resisted as in that case all the iOOd-gates
sure to break violently at last But In spite of every
thing, hold to the certainty of good; all will at
length again right itself" The visitor replied "A
man who has always kept so free and young your
self can live TO the end III every time" Oh no." said
Humboldt. Il rejoice to have this time" During
the whole visit the conversation Of Humboldt was
animated and impressive, in the highest degree.
lie seemed at home in every part Of the world
Every thought was expressed in the most becoming
form. With the eyes shut, one would have thought
that he listening to a man Of thirty Even with
his white hair. and somewhat Bonded FORM he gave
no impression of his being an old man. His appear
ance was that Ofhumane and digned beauty the eye
involuntarily rested on the and genial fore
head OF the great explorer the noble lines of his
countenance which were inspired by cheerfuness
and good WILL and on the eloquent, intellectual
mouth which the clear glance of his blue eye i'm
parted additional life. He seemed TO his admring
visitor not ouly d, have penetrated Nature by his
researches brt TO have appropriated her youth and
vigOr 10 himself ..
The first time that tine Young student had sight Of
letter ia the handwriting of IInmboldt. he was not
a little Surprised at its antique mysterious, hero
glypbe appearance He afterward learned the ex-
PLANTATION Of this TO which. see, Mr.. Willard Fill
more also refers his notice Of Humboldt on occa-
sion of the centennial celebration in NewYOrk. He
had formed the habit in his long expeditions on the
ocean andin the forest TO write rapidly with the port
folio his knee, aud this habit he kept up in great
measure in his study. even to extreme old age This
caused the peculiar character Of his manuscript the
lines crowded together in intricate confusion and
rising from the bottom to the top OF the paper
In subsequent visit to Humboldt in the begin
ming OF 1850. the conversation took philosophical
turn. The Young man had devoted himself 10 the