OF BAftOX IIUMCOLDT. 39 



teresting sketch of Humboldt' s achievements, 

 concluded his preface in these words : " If 

 Alexander von Humboldt is the principal origi- 

 nator and representative of the spirit of the 

 age which manifests itself in a general endea- 

 vour after universality, and if, for that reason, 

 already each of his works is a valuable legacy 

 for coming generations, we shall also, in his 

 investigations regarding the formation of the 

 crust of the earth in the Old World, be filled 

 with admiration, in perceiving in Alexander 

 von Humboldt, in unison with the most ex- 

 haustive studies of innumerable sources of in- 

 formation, a comprehensive acquaintance in 

 all departments of human knowledge ; we shall 

 regard with increasing interest the rare and won- 

 derful talent which enabled Humboldt to com- 

 prehend the mutual penetration of all branches 

 of physical science, and the unexpected sim- 

 plicity in which he presents these facts, together 

 with the everlasting influence which nature 

 exercises upon the life and the destiny of 

 peoples." 



But Humboldt did not restrict himself to the 

 investigation of those laws which governed the 

 creation of this world, and which still regulate 

 its existence, exclusively ; man became also to 

 him an object of observation and meditation. 



