366 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



long-cherished hopes received any promise of fulfilment. Count 

 Romanzow, Chancellor of the Empire, was personally acquainted 

 with Humboldt, for whose zeal and scientific knowledge he 

 had a high appreciation, and through his influence Yon 

 Rennenkampff, at that time in the service of Russia, but sub- 

 sequently High Chamberlain of Oldenburg, was commissioned 

 to invite Humboldt to take part in this mission to Central 

 Asia. The proposal was received by Humboldt with the liveliest 

 satisfaction : we extract the following passages from his reply, 

 dated ' Paris, The Observatory, Eue St. Jacques, January 7th,, 

 1812: 



. . . . < Besides the publication of my works upon America,. 

 I am now engaged in studies preparatory to an expedition into 

 Asia. I had conceived a project to this effect before my return 

 to Europe, and I fully intend to carry it out, but I cannot 

 leave Paris until I have completed my work, of which more 

 than two-thirds is now finished. . . . 



6 The object of chief interest to me in a journey to Asia would 

 be the high mountain range extending from the sources of the 

 Indus to those of the Granges. I should of course wish to 

 see Thibet, but a visit to that country would constitute an 

 object of but secondary interest. Most probably I should go 

 by way of the Cape of Grood Hope, for I have long con- 

 templated a work upon the declination of equatorial stars. I 

 should like to remain a year at Benares ; and should I not be 

 able thence to visit Bokhara or Thibet, I should at least be 

 within reach of the coasts of Malacca, the islands of Ceylon, 

 Java, or the Philippines. I should prefer reaching India by this 

 route, as once landed I should be sure of an interesting 

 journey, replete with discoveries of every kind. , 



' The political situation of Europe, at the time of my depar- 

 ture, will determine the course of my route, whether by way of 

 Constantinople, Bussorah, or Bombay. As India and the moun- 

 tains of Central Asia, situated between 35 and 38 of latitude, 

 form the principal objects of my expedition, I am quite in- 

 different as to the line of route. 



c Such are some of the plans at present engaging my atten- 

 tion. I am extremely flattered by the interest shown me by the 

 Court of St. Petersburg. . . . Count Romanzow, Minister of 



