MEXICO AND THE TINTED STATES. 337 



slavery was the only cloud which cast a shadow upon these 

 bright recollections, and saddened his noble spirit. 



On July 9, 1804, Humboldt bade farewell to the continent 

 of America, and set sail from the mouth of the Delaware, 

 landing*, after a prosperous voyage, at Bordeaux on August 3. 



The news of his return spread great and universal joy 

 throughout Europe, for notwithstanding the numerous letters 

 received from him, reports of his death had frequently appeared 

 in the newspapers. 1 Even so late as July 17, 1804, Korner 

 wrote to Schiller : ' Pray let me know if you hear anything 

 certain of Alexander von Humboldt. I shall be exceedingly 

 glad if the report of his death proves to be groundless.' 2 



The welcome announcement of the safe arrival of the dis- 

 tinguished traveller was first received at the French capital 

 through his letter to the National Institute, by whom the intel- 

 ligence was at once communicated to his sister-in-law, the wife 

 of William von Humboldt, at that time in Paris. 



The pleasurable emotions experienced by Humboldt upon his 

 safe return find expression in the following letters : 



To Freiesleben. 



1 Off Bordeaux : August 1, 1804. 

 ' In haste. 



c My dearest Karl, After an absence of five years I am once 

 more upon European soil. We made the entrance of the 

 Graronne two hours ago. We have been most highly favoured 

 in our voyage, accomplishing the passage from Philadelphia 



1 In the summer of 1803 it was reported in Paris that Humboldt had 

 perished among the savages in North America. (' Allg. geogr. Ephemeriden,' 

 vol. xii. p. 239.) The 'Hamburger Correspondent' of June 12, 1804, 

 contained the announcement: 'We regret to learn that the celebrated 

 traveller, Herr von Humboldt, has been attacked with yellow fever, and has 

 died at Acapulco.' (Ibid, vol. xiv. p. 510.) 



2 ' Briefwechsel zwischen Korner und Schiller,' vol. iv. p. 366. Hum- 

 boldt himself wrote in later years when consoling the father of the unfortu- 

 nate African traveller, Eduard Vogel, for the sad fate of his son : .... 

 * Consolation can only come from above ! I fulfil a tender duty in reminding 

 you of this, and in assuring you that I am not without hope of his safety. I 

 have myself read the announcement of my own death in the South Seas, 

 which had been promulgated in Paris ; and one evening, when visiting the 



YOL. I. Z 



