Humboldt's Letters. 219 



have its value. My fellow-citizen, Count Alexander 

 Lito Modignani, in a journey made by him, entirely 

 under your guidance, in North America, sought out, in 

 the mountain of Quindia, the magnificent Ceroxylus at 

 the season of the ripeness of their fruit, possessed him- 

 self of one, and was kind enough, on his return, to 

 divide with me the seeds he gathered from it. Planted 

 last spring, not one has yet sprung up ; but on visiting 

 them lately, I found them entirely sound, and in two of 

 them a trace of vegetation was perceptible at the base. 

 I should be happy, and even a little proud, to possess 

 a memento, and that, I believe, a very rare one, of a 

 people at once ancient and new, whom you have sub- 

 jected to the victorious sway of science. 



It is with the most profound respect, and, permit me 

 to add, with that affection always so naturally enter- 

 tained for a great man, and which it gives such pleasure 

 to express, that I have the honor to be your Excel- 

 lency's most humble and most obedient servant, 



ALEXANDEB MANZONI. 



NOTE BY HUMBOLDT. Written to A. Humboldt on the occasion of 

 a refusal to accept the class of peace of the order pour le merite. I 

 had been commissioned to write to him, that it was not to interfere 

 with his liberty in any degree, that he was never to wear the cross, 

 but that a name so great and so beautifal as his must needs continue 

 to grace the list of the knights. 



