FROM ACCESSION OF FREDERICK WILLIAM IV. TO 1848. 251 



society of Jewish men and women of distinction, for at that 

 period the close of the eighteenth century the most agree- 

 able and intellectual society of Berlin was to be found among 

 the enlightened circles of the reformed Jews. It must not be 

 supposed, however, that Humboldt felt any special attraction 

 towards the Jews as such, or towards the Jewish religion, al- 

 though he once gave to the latter the negative commendation 

 that it was of all religions that which was most easily recon- 

 cilable with the discoveries of science. 1 



In connection with this subject, we shall no doubt be excused 

 if we entrench so far upon a later portion of this biography 

 as to allude here to the influence Humboldt exerted upon the 

 laws of his country on the question of slavery ; for the senti- 

 ments by which )he was actuated in the accomplishment of this 

 political step had been cherished in early youth, and were pre- 

 served by him throughout life. In Humboldt the noble ideas 

 that animated the eighteenth century, and were embodied in 

 the benevolent schemes of Jefferson, were maintained and pro- 

 mulgated far into a generation which had long ceased to be 

 influenced by the noble sentiments of the founders of the union. 

 Upon the dishonourable institution of slavery he never hesitated 

 to give expression to his views, and to address himself in a tone 

 of remonstrance to the United States, with the Government of 

 which he had formerly felt so warm a sympathy. The following 

 severe passage occurs in the ' Essai politique sur 1'Ile de Cuba,' 

 published in Paris in 1826 : 'I have examined with candour 

 all that relates to the social organisation of the colonies, the 

 unequal distribution of rights and social privileges, together 

 with the dangers that now threaten political life, which, what- 

 ever may be the form of government, may be averted by wise 

 legislation and the moderate counsels of liberal-minded men. 

 It is for the traveller who has been an eye-witness of the evils 

 by which human nature is degraded, to convey the cries of 

 the unfortunate to those whose duty it is to relieve them. 



1 Kohut's ' Alexander von Humboldt und das Judenthum,' p. 176. A 

 severe critique of this disgraceful book, compiled with the intention of 

 proving * Humboldt's excessive love for Judaism,' is to be found in the 

 article, ' Humboldt als Judengenoss,' published by the author, A. Dove, in 

 the periodical ' Im neuen Reich,' 1871, vol. i. p. 377. 



