70 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS 



at this period. His mother, to whom lie was 

 most tenderly attached, had already suffered 

 for a considerable time, from increasing in- 

 firmity ; and in the early part of December, his 

 brother Wilhelm communicated to him the sad 

 news of the demise of their excellent parent 

 on the 20th of November. This painful event, 

 and the consequent regulation of their family 

 affairs, caused a short suspension in his scien- 

 tific labours, and the execution of his projected 

 travels in foreign lands. 



Alexander von Humboldt remained during 

 this winter with his brother Wilhelm, who had 

 chosen the university town of Jena for his tem- 

 porary residence. Here he enjoyed renewed 

 intercourse with his friend Freiersleben ; and 

 in the month of February received the visit of 

 Gothe. His practical study of anatomy, which 

 he had commenced some time previously, 

 awakened a lively interest in his brother Wil- 

 helm, and even in Gothe, who had frequent dis- 

 cussions with him on the subject of zoology. He 

 likewise renewed his former experiments, com- 

 menced in Vienna, with regard to galvanism, 

 and paid special attention to the laws of the ir- 

 ritation of the muscles, and the affinity existing 

 in the nerves of living animals ; and here he 

 encountered a phenomenon of life, in many 



