BARON VON HUMBOLDT. 37 



of his life are thought to have been especially de- 

 voted. The flourishing condition of the university 

 and other scientific institutions ; the Egyptian Mu- 

 seum, unrivalled in Europe ; the galleries of sculp- 

 ture and paintings ; the beautiful copies of all the 

 finest pictures of Raffaelle ; the splendid architecfcu- 

 ral and glyphic ornaments ; and other useful and 

 ornamental public works, which render Berlin one 

 of the most interesting cities in Europe ; — all attest 

 the salutary influence of Humboldt, and of men 

 such as Humboldt, over a wise and judicious Sove- 

 reign. He is as indefatigable in business as he is 

 profound in research. Often, at Berlin, have I been 

 at his door before eight in the morning, but he had 

 already gone forth to the active duties of the day ; 

 and, after these were passed, I have seen him in 

 the evening, with his gold key to his button-hole, 

 performing the offices of chamberlain in the ball- 

 room with the readiness and ease of one who had 

 never quitted the precincts of a court. To observe 

 this distinguished man, who has filled Europe with 

 his philosophic fame, standing bare-headed on the 

 walk of Teplitz, beside the seat of the Princess of 

 Liegnitz, performing the smaller offices of the courtly 

 attendant, watching her every motion, and running 

 with hat in hand to overtake her, if perchance she 

 might move forward some few steps unobserved,— 

 may excite the smile, and possibly the derision, of 

 him who looks merely on the surface of events. 

 The more thoughtful observer of human nature will 

 take a very different view. He will ascribe no 



