GO SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS 



the renown of his predecessor, Campe, who 

 had, nevertheless, awakened great hopes in 

 the father, which were, as the sequel proved, 

 abundantly justified. His name was Christian 

 Kunth ; and, though poverty had compelled 

 him to discontinue his academical studies, he 

 possessed, nevertheless, sound knowledge in 

 Latin, German, and French literature, in philo- 

 sophy and history. The relation of Kunth to 

 his pupils, Wilhelm and Alexander von Hum- 

 boldt, was of the most intimate and affectionate 

 nature, different from such relations in 

 general ; perhaps with but few parallels ; and 

 certainly difficult, if not altogether impossible, 

 in England, even under the most favourable 

 conditions. Kunth availed himself, in further- 

 ance of his object, of all the means within 

 his reach ; and his success not only fortified 

 the confidence of the parents, but awakened 

 in the boys a pure and lasting love for their 

 teacher and guide, an affection and a con- 

 fidence > which, through all the various and 

 eventful periods of their lives, never abated, 

 but continued in an undiminished degree until 

 death. "When, in after-life, Alexander was 

 engaged in his memorable explorations of 

 distant lands, or when "Wilhelm, the elder 

 brother, mused upon the ruins of classical 



