ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT 349 



history, its institutions of culture and religion, its resources, agricul- 

 tural and pastoral, its mines, its timber and its capacity under more 

 favorable conditions to contribute to the sum of human happiness. They 

 had made use of the discoveries of previous visitors, like Condamine and 

 Bourguer of the Academy of Sciences in Paris, who were in the country 

 from 1742 to 1747, and by their observations had made it easier for fu- 

 ture explorers, like Boussingault, who followed them twenty-three years 

 later, to profit by their stay in the country. Incidentally Humboldt 

 learned the value of quinine as a medicine, and is to be credited, in 

 part at least, with having made it known in Europe. He and his com- 

 panions ascertained the location of places by astronomical methods, 

 noted accurately the movements of the barometer so important in deter- 

 mining the character of the climate, and did not overlook at all the 

 botany, the mineralogy, the geology, or even the archeology of the 

 country. Having completed their observations in South America and 

 made a vast collection of specimens of various sorts, which they sent to 

 Paris, they sailed in 1803 for Acapulco, Mexico, where in studies of 

 that country and of Central America they spent nearly a year. Only a 

 few weeks were given to the United States, whence they sailed directly to 

 Bordeaux, France. 



Having reported to the King of Prussia and passed nearly two years 

 in and around Berlin, Humboldt obtained leave to visit Paris and 

 arrange for the publication of the results of his explorations. The 

 work which he had thought would occupy him possibly three or four 

 years extended to twenty and even then was unfinished. In Paris, of 

 which he was extremely fond, he associated himself with some of the 

 ablest living scientists of France and with their assistance gave to the 

 world, during the years 1807-1827, thirty volumes of description and 

 discovery. If the scientific world was astonished at the contents of 

 these volumes and the regularity with which they appeared, it soon 

 found that the knowledge for which Humboldt made himself responsible 

 was as accurate as it was extensive. Many of these volumes, in which 

 more than two thousand very costly illustrations appeared, were written 

 by Humboldt's associates, but no one of them left the press without his 

 oversight and approval. It is little wonder that his name was in high 

 repute in every part of the civilized world, that he was chosen a member 

 of nearly every learned society in Europe, or that by general consent he 

 was accounted the first scientific man of the age. This reputation, so 

 early acquired, he retained till his death. Nor were his honors derived 

 from the scientific world alone. While living in Paris he was often 

 employed by his king as a diplomat, and with great profit, for he was a 

 favorite at the court and in the best social circles of the city. A little 

 above medium height, with regular features, beaming eyes, a rare charm 

 of manner, and with a capacity for friendship rarely equalled (it is said 



