PEEF ACE. 



There are several biographies of Humboldt, French, 

 German, and English, but none of any importance, except 

 Professor Klencke^s. Klencke had an excellent opportu- 

 nity to make a good booh, for much of his material was 

 obtained from Humboldt himself, but he failed to do so. 

 He seemed to have no idea of writing, beyond its being a 

 means of conveying facts. His facts are reliable, but 

 bunglingly arranged, without order or method. He says 

 the same thing over and over again, and entirely lacks the 

 chief requisite of a biographer — the art of making his 

 subject attractive. Still, he is reliable, and the author has 

 made considerable use of his work, especially in Book I. 



The first Jive chapters of Book II. are taken from Hum- 

 boldVs "Voyage aux Regions Equinoxiales." As these 

 chapters cover an important epoch in Humboldt's life, it was 

 thought advisable to let him tell his own story, and this 

 has accordingly been done, wherever it was practicable, the 

 relation being changed from the first person to the third — 

 from autobiography to narrative. Of course only the 



