CHARACTEEISTIC TRAITS AND PERSONAL INCIDENTS. 71 



the means of collecting facts and ideas for the third and last 

 volume of " Cosmos." I shall remain till the end of the year. 

 The king is not willing I should be longer absent ! He 

 shows me much friendship, which greatly touches me me, 

 an old man who began life in 1769.' 



The period of Humboldt's life which we now bring to a close 

 the eighteen years included between 1808-1826 may be 

 briefly characterised as a time of unobtrusive industry in a 

 foreign country, which, succeeding to years of study and 

 travel, was to be followed by the most important epoch of his 

 life passed in his native city. 



