OF BARON HUMBOLDT. 175 



with reading or writing ; proceeded again to the 

 Court, or into other society, and returned gene- 

 rally about midnight. In the silence of the night 

 this remarkable man commenced his real scien- 

 tific labours, and not before three o'clock, when 

 in summer already the new day greeted him, he 

 allowed a short rest to his body, so powerfully 

 influenced by its master spirit. During the 

 closing years of his life he was, however, com- 

 pelled, in consequence of frequently returning 

 illness, to deviate from this rule. 



Humboldt was never married. The children 

 of his brother claimed and received his love. 

 His birthday, September 14th, was generally 

 celebrated at the Castle Tegel, the residence 

 of his niece, Madame de Bulow. On that 

 occasion his friends assembled, and science 

 and art presented their cordial homage to the 

 illustrious man. 



Although to all appearance Alexander von 

 Humboldt led the quiet life of a man of science, 

 he was, nevertheless, a magnet, who attracted 

 the foremost minds of all nations, whose intel- 

 lectual focus he was, and through him all scien- 

 tific events were directed towards Berlin. His 

 house was, to the end of his days, the centre 

 of numerous intellectual aspirations, and he was 

 intimately associated with all that was good, 



