312 IIUMBOLDT QUITS PARIS. 



their observations was that the magnetic property expe- 

 rienced no appreciable diminution. 



This first trip not being considered satisfactory in some 

 respects, Gay-Lussac made the second alone, and ascended 

 to the height of four miles and a quarter. He still saw 

 clouds above him, at a great height, but none below. The 

 atmosphere had a dull misty appearance. He suffered 

 intensely from the cold during his experiments. His 

 hands were benumbed ; he breathed with difficulty ; his 

 pulse was much quickened, and his throat was so parched 

 that he could scarcely swallow a morsel of bread. The 

 result of his experiments was the same as before — 

 namely, that the magnetic quality does not diminish as 

 we proceed from the surface of the earth. 



Humboldt, to whom great heights were by this time no 

 novelty, was deeply interested in these researches of Gay- 

 Lussac, and afterwards joined him in them. His only 

 literary labour at this time was an essay on the Geology 

 of America, published in the "Journal of Natural His- 

 tory." 



In the spring of 1805 he accompanied Frau Caroline, 

 who in the meantime had had another child, a little Gus- 

 tavus, to Albano. The reader will be good enough to 

 imagine the meeting of the brothers, who were both men 

 of strong feelings, though they did not always show 

 them, and loved and respected each other as two such 

 brothers should. 13e sure they had much to talk of, be 

 fore they settled into the quite routine of life, William 

 of his studies, and Alexander of his travels. He had 

 remembered his brother's tastes in the distant regions of 

 the New World, and had collected for him, in missions 

 and cloisters, and wherever he could, a great number of 



