OF BAEON HUMBOLDT. 189 



caused frequent colds. In April he wrote the 

 last page of his now completed " Cosmos." 

 The consecrated priest of nature had studied 

 his own frame so well, that he did not deceive 

 himself. At the beginning of May, 1859, his 

 friends were suddenly alarmed by the news, 

 that, in consequence of a cold, he had already 

 for several days kept his bed. The bulletins of 

 the two physicians who attended Humboldt ^ 

 Romberg and Traube confirmed his critical 

 position. His physical strength had rapidly 

 diminished, but his mind remained unclouded, 

 though his speech -had become more feeble. 

 Till near the hour of his death he was perfectly 

 conscious ; his last thoughts were with the King 

 of Prussia, his faithful friend of many years^ 

 who, away from his country, suffered from an 

 incurable disease. To the last whispered words 

 of his niece, Madame von Biilow, his nephew 

 General Hedemann, and his faithful servant 

 Seiffert, he gave a distinct reply. Soon after- 

 wards he became silent, and died calmly in the 

 afternoon, on May 6th, 1859, at the age of 89 

 years, 7 months and a few days. 



The whole city of Berlin received the news of 

 his demise with profound grief. The electric 

 spark, the confidential friend of Humboldt, con- 

 veyed speedily the sad news to all civilized 



