OP BAEON HUMBOLDT. 145 



agitation in Europe; political changes were 

 imperatively demanded; and Germany in 

 general, and Prussia in particular, were placed 

 in critical positions. Though Alexander von 

 Humboldt had never taken any active part* in 

 political matters, the peculiar nature of the 

 difficulties to be encountered, the absolute con- 

 fidence of the King of Prussia in Humboldt 5 s 

 integrity, and the fact that in his scientific 

 sphere he belonged to two nations for the 

 French considered him a great contributor to 

 their national literature, and an honour to their 

 country ; whilst Germany claimed him as her 

 natural son all these circumstances singled 

 him out as pre-eminently qualified to act as a 

 mediator between two nations who were equally 

 proud of his renown. 



For this purpose, Alexander von Humboldt 

 undertook, at the request of the King of 

 Prussia, a diplomatic mission to Paris, in order 

 to congratulate Louis-Philippe and the new 

 dynasty on their accession to power. His 

 brother, "Wilhelm, had likewise been called from 

 private life, and had been appointed a Coun- 

 cillor of State. Thenceforth, the two brothers 

 lived almost exclusively together. While the 

 elder brother contemplated the laws of the 

 intellectual and historical life, or examined 



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