OF BARON HUMBOLDT. 163 



disciples of science, inspired by the dignity of 

 the study of nature, was not discouraged at the 

 prospect of the inevitable and necessary per- 

 fection of human knowledge ; for he was con- 

 scious that in many important branches of 

 science he had been one of the foremost pio- 

 neers, and had assisted in laying foundations 

 not easy to remove. 



It is certainly more than probable that yet 

 isolated phenomena will be subjected to general 

 laws ; that new forces of nature will manifest 

 themselves ; that apparent homogeneous matter 

 may be indefinitely multiplied, or regarded in 

 its progress according to the laws of evolu- 

 tion ; independent of all these probabilities, 

 the achievements of Alexander von Humboldt 

 will be of importance for the most remote 

 periods of time. It is Alexander von Humboldt 

 who brings us face to face with nature in 

 her unceasing activity, and directs us to ever- 

 lasting and unchangeable laws which regulate 

 all stages of physical transition. 



The genial manner in which Alexander von 

 Humboldt represents nature, furnishes not only 

 the purest, and the most elevated kind of enjoy- 

 ment, but aids likewise the progressive develop- 

 ment of the highest intellectual capacities ; 

 giving us an insight in the more profound 



M 2 



