336 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



have visited are of those least known and most interesting, and 

 a lively desire will be felt generally to receive the information 

 you will be able to give. No one will feel it more strongly 

 than myself, because no one perhaps views this New World with 

 more partial hopes of its exhibiting an ameliorated state of the 

 human condition. In the new position in which the seat of 

 our government is fixed, we have nothing curious to attract 

 the observation of a traveller, and can only substitute in its 

 place the welcome \vith which we should receive your visit, 

 should you find it convenient to add so much to your journey. 

 Accept, I pray you, my respectful salutations and assurances of 

 great respect and consideration, &c. 



' JEFFERSON. 

 1 A M. le Baron de Humboldt.' 



Short as was Humboldt's stay in the United States, his visit 

 was productive of important results in the opportunity it 

 afforded him of becoming acquainted with that wonderful 

 political organisation which was then exciting universal interest. 

 He studied the system in its minor details, as well as in the 

 broad principles of its administrative economy, and instituted 

 a comparison between the condition of the United States and 

 that of the Spanish colonies, through which he had just been 

 travelling. He made acquaintance with the most influential 

 men in the country, and obtained from intercourse with them 

 some insight into their views as to the future policy of the re- 

 public. Engaged with considerations of this nature, Humboldt 

 found ample occupation during the three weeks he spent with 

 Jefferson at Monticello ; during his visit the president com- 

 municated to him an extraordinary project of his imaginative 

 but somewhat fantastic genius, a project for the future division 

 of the continent of America into three great republics, in 

 which were to be incorporated the Spanish possessions in 

 Mexico, and the States of South America. 1 



Throughout the remainder of his life, Humboldt always 

 retained a pleasing remembrance of this sojourn in the United 

 States, and frequently alluded to it in grateful terms to the 

 various Americans who visited him : the shameful institution of 



1 Silliman, ' A Visit to Alexander von Humboldt.' 



