pupils a far more close and endearing relation than the cold official one usually subsisting between the teacher and the taught.

A difference in the intellectual tendencies and tastes of the boy-students soon revealed itself. Though both rooted in the same foundation, they early discovered a disposition to pursue different branches of acquirement. The illness of their father led to the cultivation of an intimacy, followed by important results, with Dr. Heim, who became medical attendant to the major, and who continued to be a frequent visitor in the family after his death, which event took place in 1779. This eminent physician imparted to the youths a knowledge of botany, and explained to them the twenty-four courses of the Linnean system. It would appear, from an expression used by Heim at this period, that Alexander, then eleven years of age, was of a far less intelligent nature than his brother; the former experienced much more difficulty in comprehending and retaining his lessons than the fatter. Much of this inaptitude may perhaps be ascribed to his constitutional delicacy and frequent indisposition, which painfully excited the apprehensions of his mother, and which he did not overgrow for many years. Many of his friends, however, attributed this physical weakness to the premature activity of his mind, stimulated, perhaps unconsciously, by a desire to equal his rival in knowledge and general attainments.

had chosen. In the spring of 1791 he became a student in the mining academy of Freiburg, where he devoted his zealous attention to the sciences of mining and metallurgy. In the following year he received an appointment as superintendent of mines in the newly acquired Franconian district, with a commission to remodel the mining operations carried on there. This position he filled till 1795, when he voluntarily resigned it; not, however, before he had published numerous valuable works of a practical character, which spread his reputa tion as a clever naturalist. All this time, his mind was secretly cherishing and elaborating the plan of a great voyage of discovery, which, after many disappointments, he was destined to see, to a considerable extent, realised.

The next four years witnessed several unsuccess ful attempts to fulfil the ambitious wish of his heart. Successive exploring schemes in Italy, Upper Egypt, Asia, and the coast of Africa, were vexationsly frustrated, after the most laborious preparations had been made for them; sometimes by family afflictions, but mainly through the unsettled and perilous state of the lands and seas he would have had to traverse. At the commencement of 1799, however, circumstances being more propitious, our adventurer, accompanied by Bonpland, actually started on that important scientific pilgrimage which detained him five years from Europe, and supplied him with that opulence In the year 1783-about three years before the of materials out of which most of his invaluable death of Frederic the Great-the brothers, accom- works have since been constructed. He proceeded, panied by their preceptor, were sent to Berlin, in in the first instance, to Madrid, where, through order to avail themselves of the superior advan- the intervention of the Saxon ambassador, he was tages and appliances which the capital afiorded in favourably introduced to the Spanish minister Urthe prosecution of their education. Numerous first-quijo, by whom in turn Humboldt was presented rate teachers were now engaged to carry forward their special studies. After spending about three years in Berlin, they together entered upon their academical life at the university of Frankfurt on the Oder. Here William devoted himself to the study of the law, and Alexander to political economy, with a view to their preparation for public life. In 1788, they removed to the celebrated university of Göttingen, where they were brought into mental contact and communion with some of the greatest scholars of the age; for here, besides other men of mark, lived and taught Blumenbach, the famous natural historian; Heyne, the reviver and teacher of archæological science; and Eichhorn, the historian. Their intercourse with these distinguished professors exercised a great influence on the future studies and achievements of Alexander especially.

The university career of the younger Humboldt having terminated towards the close of 1789, just as the French revolution was stirring all Europe to its centre, we find him separating himself for the first time from his brother, and in obedience to the noble impulses of his mind, making his first scientific journey to the Rhine, through Holland, and thence to England. This experimental trip became the subject of his earliest literary production. Magnificent projects of travel and extensive research into the secrets of nature were already being fashioned in his imagination; to equip and furnish himself for which, he devoted himself more closely than ever to study, and undertook occasional tours of inspection with the view of serving a sort of practical apprenticeship to the grand vocation he

at court, which gave him the opportunity of explaining to the king his scientific plans. Struck by the representations of their probable practical utility, the descendant of Ferdinand gave his royal permission to the travellers to visit and explore all the Spanish possessions in America, and issued instructions for their protection and assistance. From Madrid they went to Corunna, in quest of a vessel to bear them on their watery way. Here they found a ship, the " Pizarro," prepared to sail to Mexico and Havannah, but which had been for some time detained by the blockade of an English fleet. The travellers, however, went on board, in order to be in readiness to avail themselves of any favourable opportunity of evading the blockading forces. Such a chance before long occurred, in consequence of a violent storm, which compelled the foreign frigates to quit the coast and make for the open sea. During their temporary absence, the "Pizarro" slipped from its moorings, succeeded in eluding the vigilance of the English cruisers, and in the evening, favoured by a fresh breeze, reached the open sea. Great was Humboldt's joy as the European coast gradually faded from his view, and his face was at length set towards the gorgeous realms of that new world, for a sight of which his soul had been yearning for so many years.

To the penetrating eye and well-stored mind ot Humboldt, the voyage to which he had just com mitted himself was full of fascination and instruction. Nature revealed its marvels to him at every step. The sky, the air, the water, exposed their treasures and secrets to his initiated gaze. Much

that he saw was new and surprising. During the night he beheld medusæ emit electric sparks at the moment when the act of catching communicated to them a slight shock. Between Madeira and the African coast he witnessed a perfect rain of shooting stars, which became more vivid the further south the ship proceeded. Sailing on, he passed the Canary Islands, whose shores, and conical rocks, and volcanic elevations, illumined by the moonlight, pleased him much. A mistake of the captain, who mistook a basaltic rock for a fortress, and sent an officer to it, gave Humboldt Arrived at Cumana, he was received with great an opportunity of landing on the small isle La civility by the governor of the province. Here, as Graciosa, an incident of interest to him, as being soon as he had time to stroll about, and observe the first non-European soil he had ever trod. The the amazing productions of nature, he found that next object of anticipation to the southern voyager he was no longer on the "boundary, but in the was the peak of Teneriffe, which, much to his regret, centre of the torrid zone." The force and freshness was veiled in mist. He, however, landed on the and gigantic proportions of vegetablelife everywhere island for the purpose of making inland excursions astonished him. Birds, beasts, and reptiles were and ascending to the summit of peak Teyde. Here, all strange to him. The trees that towered above on the border of the tropics, he for the first time his head, the luminous insects that floated in the met with the banana, the melon-tree, and other air and brightened the night, and the glorious contropical productions flourishing in the open air. stellations blazing in the southern sky, all reminded He describes the island as an enchanting garden. him of his distance from home. Here, in their The ascent of the sugar-loaf rock afforded the phi-native haunts, he was first introduced to the society losopher much delight and instruction; passing as of immense lizards, monstrous crocodiles disporting he did in succession through different zones of vege- in the streams, and melancholy monkeys that seem tation, from the tropical luxuriance that clothed its to be more depressed the nearer they resemble base to the mosses and lichens of the northern man. Here also he seemed to have stumbled upon deserts, and through every variety of climate, the very home of the earthquake, where its terrible from the Indian sultriness of the plain below to the voices, its phenomena, and its devastations are arctic cold of the cavernous crater above. This almost always to be heard or seen. The extensive remarkable mountain furnished Humboldt with experiences of Humboldt on this subject have led valuable materials for his geological investigations him to the conclusion that earthquakes are taking into the nature and extent of volcanic agency in place every minute in some portion of the earth. the formation of the earth and the phenomena of earthquakes.

was a young Austrian, the only earthly support of his widowed mother. His death made a deep impression on Humboldt; and it was while under the influence of the mournful feelings inspired by this terrible scourge, that he landed on those shores which had so often smiled a welcome to him in his boyish dreams. In order to abridge the voyage and escape from the infected ship, the captain run into the port of Cumana, on the northeastern coast of Venezuela. This led also to a change in Humboldt's plans.

While absorbed in these researches, a casual glance at the sea-coast below showed to Humboldt and his companion that their vessel was preparing to sail. Thus alarmed, they descended the rock as speedily as possible, and re-embarking, continued their voyage. As they proceeded, the travellers occupied themselves principally with the sea-winds, which became more equable the nearer they approached the Africar. coast. Next, as they reached the northern regions of the Cape Verd Islands, the great swimming sea-weeds attracted their attention; these productions form banks of marine plants, and are probably rooted in the bottom of the sea, as branches fully 800 feet long have been found. Still sailing on, a melancholy object, a shipwrecked vessel covered with sea-weed, approached, and passed away like a grass-grown floating grave. Not long after this sorrowful incident, a beautiful and inspiring sight was presented to the scientific enthusiast. On a clear midsummer night, he was favoured with a glorious view of the southern cross, the same brilliant constellation which had welcomed the first mariners of the 15th century, as the stars of their native vanishing behind them. Deep were his emotions as he gazed upon this sign of a new world. As if to check the flow of his exuberant joy, however, and temper the ardour of his expectations, by showing him that human life at best is made up of alternate sunshine and shadow, a malignant fever broke out, which grew more serious as the ship neared the Antilles. Its first victim

north were

To enter into the details of the five years' toilsome excursions that followed would demand a volume instead of a few paragraphs. We can only say in brief, that he explored most of the gigantic rivers of central America, at infinite hazard to his life, often during his inland wanderings in search of natural curiosities falling in with savages and cannibals; he traversed plains, and prairies, and forests of almost interminable extent; explored silver, gold, and diamond mines; and climbed to mountain eminences that had probably seldom, if ever, before been pressed by the foot of man. As an illustration of the courage and enterprise of our traveller, we may mention that he ascended the Chimborazo, one of the loftiest mountains in the world, and towering nearly 6000 feet above the celebrated Mont Blanc. While tarrying in this altitude, the blood flowed from his eyes, his lips, and his gums, breathing became difficult, and the thermometer stood still. One of the first cities visited by him was Caracas, which was utterly destroyed by an earthquake in 1812, at least 12,000 inhabitants perishing beneath the ruins of their overthrown dwellings. It was during his journeyings in these magical regions that he discovered the celebrated cow-tree, the previous reports concerning which had been regarded as fabulous. Here, however, in the beautiful valleys of Araguay, it stood, generally too on the sterile declivity of rocks, exuding, on incision, a mild-tasting milk, with an aromatic flavour, and affording healthy nourishment to the native negroes. Here it was also, in the waters near Calaboza, that he made those remarkable observations and experiments upon electric eels, which

were referred to in a former number of our journal. After visiting New Granada, the Brazilian and Mexican coasts, Peru, Cuba, and Havannah, Humboldt and his friend Bonpland returned, and reached the harbour of Bordeaux in August, 1804, laden with such immense stores of information, and such collections of specimens and natural treasures as no scientific argosy had ever before brought home from any lands. The fame of their exploits had preceded them, and had created quite a sensation throughout the learned and intellectual circles of Europe.

time to time been deferred. While busy with his public lectures, however, the emperor of Russia renewed the magnificent offer which had been previously made to him, of forming an extended expedition in the Russian dominions, at his sole cost, with the express injunction that the advantages resulting from his researches into the mining capabilities of the country were to be subordinated to investigations tending directly to the general advancement of science. Humboldt gladly embraced this proposal, and spent the following year in preparatory studies. On the 12th of April, 1829, he The next few years of Humboldt's life were took his departure from Berlin, accompanied by spent, partly in Berlin and partly in Paris, in ar- two eminent naturalists, Gustav Rose and Ehrenranging and classifying the multitudinous materi- berg, to each of whom a special branch of activity als he had gathered in the far south. To accomplish was assigned. Besides these, an experienced Rusthe herculean task of preparing these for publica- sian functionary was appointed, as Humboldt's tion, he was obliged to secure the co-operation of constant companion, whose duty it was to give inmany of the greatest scholars of the age, in almost formation, afford guidance, and levy the necessary every department of scientific attainment. These assistance from the authorities. They proceeded eminent men, with a freedom from jealousy that by Moscow and Kasan to the Asiatic side of the does credit to their memory, felt it an honour to be Ural chain, whose geological phenomena and mefellow-labourers in this gigantic work, and emu- tallic wealth afforded abundant occupation for his lated each other in an endeavour to enhance the exploring genius. In these regions he visited sterling value of the respective branches committed malachite pits, magnetic mountains, deposits of to their care. Artists and artisans also, catching topaz and barytes, salt mines, quarries of green the same spirit, strove to make the artistic contri- jasper, extinct volcanoes, and mines of platinum butions, the atlas, the landscapes, the topographical and gold. Of the two latter precious metals he arrangements, as perfect and brilliant as possible. picked up many nuggets, weighing from twenty to The work was written in French, as being the twenty-eight pounds each. After an absence of language best adapted to give extensive circulation about eight months he returned to Berlin, having to its treasures, and was subdivided into a series of travelled a distance of 2500 geographical miles, pamphlets, each being devoted to a special topic. bringing home vast materials, calculated to illus The comprehensiveness of this colossal undertak-trate another gigantic work, instalments only of ing may be judged by the time required for its completion, notwithstanding the valuable aid given. to it; for, although the first volume appeared nearly forty years ago, it is only recently completed. In 1844, while yet far from being perfected, the cost of a copy of the folio edition was about 4057. The aggregate expenses connected with the publication of the work have amounted to nearly 34,000l., towards which Humboldt has made large pecuniary sacrifices.

In 1822, Humboldt accompanied the king of Prussia on a journey to Italy, on which occasion he fulfilled the long-cherished desire of ascending and studying Vesuvius-an excursion which has proved of peculiar value to the interests of science. In 1827, he paid a visit to London, where he was honourably entertained by Canning; after which period, until he started on his Russian tour, he spent most of his time in Berlin, and under the shadow of royalty. On the 3rd of November, 1827, the renowned naturalist commenced a course of extraordinary lectures on physical cosmography, which attracted all the intellect of the capital and its vicinity. In these eloquent prelections he gave forth, in a popularised_form, all the rich fruits of his wonderful researches, thereby charming his audiences and vastly augmenting his fame. This course was the first sketch of the famous "Kosmos," the plan of which had long been forming in his mind, and which is being brought out in his ripe old age as the final result of his life-studies and experiences.

Humboldt had long cherished the idea of a scientific campaign in Asia, and particularly among its mountain districts; but the execution had from

which have yet been presented to the world.

Exhausted space will only permit us to add a few concluding facts respecting his subsequent history. After the revolution of 1830, he was sent by his sovereign on a diplomatic mission to Paris, to acknowledge the new dynasty in the person of Louis Philippe. Early in 1835 he lost his brother, an event that filled him with deep and enduring grief; and he afterwards undertook the duty of superintending the issue of his literary remains. From that period to the present time his career has been chequered by no striking incident or vi cissitude; but he has lived on, working most inindefatigably himself, and producing labour in others, who, seizing upon a single suggestion from Humboldt, have developed and pushed it to important results. He continues to be one of the brightest luminaries of the Prussian court, and acts as the confidential companion and scientific adviser of the present monarch; while all men of intellect and knowledge revere him as a patriarch among philosophers, and as the best interpreter of the book of nature whom God has for ages sent into the world. At his advanced age, the period cannot be far distant, however, when he must proceed on a journey of a more momentous character than any which he has yet undertaken-even one to that land "from which no traveller e'er returns." Of his religious opinions the volume before us gives no distinct intimation. It is, we trust, no indecorous wish for us to breathe, that this aged pilgrim of science may be found prepar ing for that kingdom which even the philosopher cannot enter unless, born again by the Holy Spirit, he receive it as a little child.