12 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



unprejudiced spirit that she manifested in the choice of tutors 

 for her sons is worthy of all commendation, for she herself be- 

 longed to a station in life where at that time riding, fencing, 

 and dancing were considered the chief requisites in the education 

 of youths of distinction. She spared no expense in securing 

 the services of the best masters, and in maintaining an inter- 

 course with the most gifted and intellectual men of the time. 



Of all the possessions of Major von Humboldt none was 

 more closely associated with the earliest recollections of his two 

 sons, nor more intimately connected with the future history of 

 William and Alexander von Humboldt, than the country-house 

 at Tegel. 



On the banks of the Havel, about eight miles from Berlin, 

 from which it is separated by extensive pine woods, is situated 

 the village and mansion of Tegel. The river at this point 

 expands into a beautiful lake, studded with numerous islands 

 and surrounded by a richly wooded shore. On the high bank 

 forming one side of the shore stands the house, looking towards 

 the south upon the town . and fortress of Spandau. The house 

 had been originally a hunting-box of the Great Elector, and 

 was afterwards incorporated into the district of Schonhausen. 



The crown lands at Tegel, while under the rangership of 

 Biirgsdorf, had been employed as an extensive nursery of foreign 

 trees, 1 whence in 1.786,500 varieties, mostly of North American 

 species, were supplied for the ornamental plantations of the 

 Eoyal Gardens at Potsdam, Charlottenberg, and Schonhausen : 

 previous to this arrangement the crown had devoted the estate 

 to the culture of silkworms, and had let the house and land 

 on the nominal rent of 138 thalers (28Z.), on condition of 

 this plan being carried out, and of 100,000 mulberry trees 2 

 being planted. Since the year 1738, the various tenants, 



1 Leonardi, ' Beschreibung der preussischen Monarchic/ vol. iii. part i. p. 

 746. 



2 [The rearing of silkworms excited so much attention throughout Europe 

 at this time, that Government bounties were given in almost every country 

 for the encouragement of schemes for this purpose ; but in nearly every 

 instance the attempt failed. It may be interesting to English readers to be 

 reminded that many of the old mulberry trees in our own country were 

 planted in consequence of a circular letter issued by James I. to persons of 

 influence throughout the kingdom, recommending their cultivation.] 



