LETTERS FROM CARL RITTER. 105 



solid acquisitions of knowledge, as for the great amenity of 

 his character. 



FROM CARL RITTER.* 



RESPECTED SIR, In the name of the Geographical 

 Society of Berlin, I have the pleasure of sending to you 

 their diploma, the Society having honored itself by elect 

 ing you an extraneous honorary member, in the hope that 

 you will accept it as a sign of respect and thanks for the 

 great scientific contributions, including those to the special 

 geographical department of this Society, with which you 

 have enriched, for so long a period of labors and exertions, 

 the old continent from the new. 



With the greatest respect, and the best wishes for your 

 welfare, 



Your most devoted servant, 



CARL RITTER, President of 

 the Geographical Society at Berlin. 



BERLIN, August 4, 1851. 



FROM CARL RITTER. 



RESPECTED SIR, The personal intercourse you favored 

 me with, on your visit to Berlin in 1851, and the spirited 

 notes and characteristics you gave (in the " Visit to Eu- 

 rope," Vol. ii. 318-322) respecting the now deceased, 

 greatest, and at the same time humblest and loveliest, 

 of our philosophers, the immortal Alexander Humboldt. 

 encourages me to send you a Programme having reference 

 to the perpetuation of his memory by continuing to work, 

 in his spirit of liberty and of love for mankind, for the ad- 

 vancement of science and humanity, and for the welfare of 

 all civilized nations. 



All who will freely favor the foundation of the Humboldt 

 Stiftung, will partake in the results of an institution that 



* The preceding letter of Humbolt is translated from the French. The 

 letters of Ritter were written in English. F. 



