OF BARON HUMBOLDT. 187 



hearty participation in the free, public and 

 intellectual development of Germany, are unim- 

 paired ; but my physical powers are rapidly 

 declining ; and I am for that reason prevented 

 to appear, where the dearest memories and the 

 deepest gratitude require my presence." 



But not from learned societies only, received 

 Alexander von Humboldt public testimonies of 

 homage ; many private individuals presented, 

 in various ways, and frequently in a delicate 

 and affectionate manner, their spontaneous 

 tribute of admiration ; either in valuable produc- 

 tions of nature or otherwise. 



I would only mention, of the numerous 

 presents which Humboldt received on his 89th 

 birthday, a painting offered by two students 

 of Breslau, representing him as a teacher, sur- 

 rounded by his celebrated friends and pupils ; 

 amongst them his brother Wilhelm, Leopold 

 vonBuch, Lichtenstein, Chamisso, Bitter, Erd- 

 mann, and others, a gift accompanied by a 

 poetic dedication, borrowed from Gothe. At 

 the same time the public journals announced 

 that the Nicaragua Society, established to effect 

 a connection of the Atlantic with the Pacific, 

 had taken steps to elect Humboldt their hono- 

 rary president. 



In the year 1858 the friends of Humboldt 



