THE LAST TEN YEARS. 377 



history, then into a large library, which apparently contained 

 the gifts of authors, artists, and men of science. I walked 

 between two long tables, heaped with sumptuous folios, to the 

 further door, which opened into the study. Those who have seen 

 the admirable coloured lithograph of Hildebrandt's picture 

 know precisely how the room looks. There was the plain 

 table, the writing-desk, covered with letters and manuscripts, 

 the little green sofa, and the same maps and pictures on the 

 drab-coloured walls. The picture had been so long hanging 

 in my own room at home, that I at once recognised each parti- 

 cular object. 



' Seifert went to an inner door, announced my name, and 

 Humboldt immediately appeared. He came up to me with a 

 heartiness and cordiality which made me feel that I was in 

 the presence of a friend, gave me his hand, and inquired 

 whether we should converse in English or Grerman. " Your 

 letter," said he, " was that of a Grerman, and you must certainly 

 speak the language familiarly ; but I am also in the constant 

 habit of using English." He insisted on my taking one end of 

 the green sofa, observing that he rarely sat upon it himself, 

 then drew up a plain cane -bottomed chair and seated himself 

 beside it, asking me to speak a little louder than usual, as his 

 hearing was not so acute as formerly. 



' As I looked at the majestic old man, the line of Tennyson, 

 describing Wellington, came into my mind : 



Oh, good grey head, which all men knew. 



The first impression made by Humboldt's face was that of a 

 .broad and genial humanity. His massive brow, heavy with 

 the gathered wisdom of nearly a century, bent forward and 

 overhung his breast, like a ripe, ear of corn, but as you looked 

 below it, a pair of clear blue eyes, almost as bright and steady 

 as a child's, met your own. In those eyes you read that trust 

 in man, that immortal youth of the heart, which made the 

 snows of eighty-seven winters lie so lightly upon his head. 

 You trusted him utterly at the first glance, and you felt that 

 he would trust you, if you were worthy of it. I had approached 

 him with a natural feeling of reverence, but in five minutes I 

 found that I loved him, and could talk with him as freely as 



