OF BARON HUMBOLDT. 135 



Her early departure caused considerable grief 

 and mourning. Her various travels had brought 

 her in an intimate relationship with the chief 

 celebrities in science and art, and her house in 

 Rome, Vienna, Paris, and Berlin was always 

 the centre of a most refined and intellectual 

 society. 



Alexander von Humboldt remained with his 

 brother Wilhelm until April 12th, 1829, when 

 he left Berlin on his journey to Central Asia. He 

 had endeavoured by all possible means to soothe 

 the grief of his brother, and in anticipation of 

 the probable results, which the absolute loneli- 

 ness of Wilhelm at Tegel, mourning over the 

 grave of his Caroline, might cause ; considering 

 the peculiar trait of sentimentality and of 

 enthusiasm which distinguished Wilhelm von 

 Humboldt, Alexander interceded on behalf of 

 his brother with the King, intimating that 

 active service would be the best antidote to his 

 overwhelming grief. Certain it is that soon 

 after Alexander's departure the King called 

 Wilhelm von Humboldt to Berlin, in order to 

 preside over a commission charged with the 

 internal arrangements of the new museum a 

 post for which he was pre-eminently qualified. 

 On April 12th, Alexander von Humboldt took 

 leave of his brother, and proceeded on his 



