WASHINGTOX lEYIXG. 461 



million of men supported by their votes a man of Fre- 

 mont's character and achievements.' AYith regard to 

 Buchanan, he said: 'I had occasion to speak of his 

 Ostend Manifesto not long since, in a letter which has 

 been published, and I could not characterize its spirit bj 

 any milder term than savage.'' He also spoke of our 

 authors, and inquired particularly after Washington 

 Irving, whom he had once seen. I told him I had the 

 fortune to know Mr. Irving, and had seen him not long 

 before leaving ISTew York. ' He must be at least fifty 

 years old,' said Humboldt. ' He is seventy,' I answered, 

 'but as young as ever.' 'Ah,' said he, 'I have lived so 

 long that I have almost lost the consciousness of time. 

 I belong to the age of Jefferson and Gallatin, and I heard 

 of Washington's death while travelling in South America.' 

 " I have repeated but the smallest portion of his con- 

 versation, which flowed on in an uninterrupted stream 

 of the richest knowledge. On recalling it to my mind, 

 after leaving, I was surprised to find how great a number 

 of subjects he had touched upon, and how much he had 

 said, or seemed to have said — for he has the rare facult]^ 

 of placing a subject in the clearest and most vivid light 

 bv a few luminous words — concernino; each. He 

 thought, as he talked, without effort. I should compare 

 his brain to the Fountain of Yaucluse — a still, deep, and 

 tranquil pool, without a ripple on its surface, but creating 

 a river by its overflow. He asked me many questions, 

 but did not always wait for an answer, the question 

 itself suggesting some reminiscence, or some thought 

 which he had evident pleasure in expressing. I sat or 

 walked, following his movements, an eager listener, and 

 speaking in alternate English or German, until the time 



