1857.] Bayard Taylors Visit to Humboldt. 107 



ness of time. I belong to the age of Jefferson and Gallatin, 

 and I heard of Washington's death while traveling in South 

 America.' 



He asked me many questions, but did not ahvay.s wait for iin an- 

 swer, the question itself suggesting some reminiscence, or some 

 thought which he took evident pleasure in expressing. I sat or 

 walked, following his movements an eager listener, and speaking in 

 alternate English and German, until the time which he had granted 

 to me had expired. Seifert at length re-appeared, and said to him 

 in a manner at once respectful but familiar, ' It is time,' and I took 

 my leave. 



' You have traveled much, and seen many ruins,' said Humboldt, 

 as he gave me his hand again ; ' now you have seen one more.' ' Not 

 a ruin,' I could riot help replying, ' but a pyramid ; ' for I pressed 

 the hand which had touched that of Frederick the Great, of Fors- 

 TER, the companion of Capt. Cook, of Klopstock and Schiller, 

 of Pitt, Napoleon, Josephine, the Marshals of the Empire, Jef- 

 ferson, Hamilton, Wisland, Herder, G(ethe, Cuvier, La 

 Plate, Guy Lussac, Beethoven, Walter Scott — in short, of ev- 

 ery great man whom Europe has produced for three-quarters of a 

 century. 



As I was passing out through the cabinet of Natural History, 

 Seifert's voice arrested me. ' I beg your pardon, sir,' said he, 

 ' but do you know what this is ? ' pointing to the antlers of a Rocky 

 Mountain elk. ' Of course I do, I have helped to eat many of 

 them.' He then pointed out the other specimens, and took me into 

 the library to show me some drawings by his son-in-law, Muleausen, 

 who had accompanied Lieut. Whipple in his expedition to the 

 Rocky Mountains. He also showed me a very elaborate specimen of 

 bead-work, in a gilt frame. 



' This,' said he, ' is tha work of a Kirghiz princess, who presented 

 it to his Excellency when we were on our journey to Siberia.' 

 'You accompanied his Excellency then?' I asked. 'Yes,' said he, 

 ' we were there in '29.' Seifert is justly proud of having shared 

 for thirty or forty years the fortunes of his master. There was a 

 ring, and the servant came in to announce a visitor. 'Ah, the 

 Prince Ypsilanti,' said he ; 'don't let him in, do n't let a single 

 soul in, I must go and dress his Excellency. Sir, excuse me — yours, 

 most respectfully,' and therewith he bowed himself out. As I de- 

 scended to the street, I met Prince Ypsilanti on the stairs. 



