

Vs 

 V 



CHAPTER I. 

 EARLY HOME. 



Signification of Name Traditional History Ancestry and Parentage 

 Tegel and Childhood Tutors and Bent of Mind Universal En- 

 thusiasm for Geographical Discovery Overwork and Illness Prepara- 

 tions for the University State of Society at Berlin. 



THE NAME of HUMBOLDT shines in twofold splendour, illus- 

 trious alike in the world of science and in the history of modern 

 development ; for intimately associated with Alexander von 

 Humboldt must ever stand his elder brother William, who, dis- 

 tinguished as a statesman for the nobility of mind of a Pericles, 

 was even further renowned as a philologist and critic. By the 

 name of Humboldt a chord is struck, the vibrations of which 

 extend in ever-widening circles, awakening as they spread 

 thoughts of the deepest import, and arousing visions of the 

 loftiest efforts in philosophic enquiry and the most varied 

 achievements in every branch of scientific investigation. 



The biographies hitherto published of the two distinguished 

 men who bore the name of Humboldt trace their descent 

 from an ancient noble family of Eastern Pomerania, resident 

 at Zamenz or Zemmenz, in the principality of Cammin, who 

 had been for generations in possession . of property in the circle 

 of Neustettin. It is stated by Berghaus that their ancestors ' in 

 ancient times fought under Flammberg, in the wars between the 

 Germans and Sclavonians.' Pott interprets the etymological 

 meaning of the name ' as a fabulous Hun of gigantic propor- 

 tions.' French biographies represent the father of William 

 and Alexander von Humboldt to have been so wealthy, that by 

 lending the whole of his property to the King, he had actually 

 borne half the expenses of the Seven Years' War ; eventually it 



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