92 ALEXAKDEK VON HUMBOLDT. 



faculties of a master mind. The reception of thoughts so 

 suggestive, the outflow of a well-stored mind, warms and 

 inflames the coldest, inspires the most indifferent, and imparts 

 to the most retiring a sense of elevation. 6 The companionship 

 I enjoyed on this journey,' writes Humboldt, c the kind interest 

 shown me by Sir Joseph Banks, and the sudden passion which 

 seized me for everything connected with the sea, and for visiting 

 tropical lands, all exerted a most powerful influence in the 

 formation of projects which, however, could not be carried 

 out during the lifetime of my mother.' 



Forsfcer, 6 whose noble, sympathetic, and sanguine tempera- 

 ment made him one of the happiest of men,' was always held 

 by Humboldt, not only in respectful but in grateful remem- 

 brance. It is not generally known that the translation into 

 German of Humboldt's ' Voyage aux Eegions equinoxiales,' the 

 'Eeise in die Aequinoctialgegenden des neuen Continents,' 

 published in six volumes by Cotta, 1815-32, was executed by 

 Frau Therese Forster, afterwards the wife of Huber; the 

 work was entrusted to her as a means of pecuniary assistance, 

 but unfortunately the translation was in many places so in- 

 accurate that the undertaking proved a complete failure. 



Even in the last year of his life l Humboldt thus expressed 

 himself to Heinrich Konig, who had sent him a copy of his 

 work ' George Forster at Home and Abroad ' : ' How can I 

 adequately express to you my gratitude, for having followed 

 the suggestion given you at Wilhelmsthal, in such a friendly 

 spirit, by that noble and liberal-minded prince, the Grand- 

 Duke ! You have furnished a biography of my departed 

 friend which is characterised as much by the accuracy, fidelity, 

 and impartiality of its representations as by the ability of 

 its compilation. The perusal of your admirable work, in 

 which so much penetration and good feeling are displayed^ 

 has kept me agreeably occupied for two long evenings. It 

 has produced upon my mind many pleasing impressions, and 

 many sad ones also. For the space of thirty years I have 

 never known leisure but of an evening, and the half-century 

 that I have spent in this ceaseless activity has been occupied 

 in telling myself and others how much I owe my teacher 



1 On July 28, 1858. 



