HUMBOLDT AT TEGEL. 373 



partly to make a more complete determination of all the 

 edges of the crater. 



The eruption of Vesuvius which Humboldt witnessed 

 in the autumn of 1822 was the most memorable of any of 

 which we possess any authentic account, since that which 

 occasioned the death of the elder Pliny, and destroyed 

 Herculaneum and Pompeii. 



In the commencement of 1823, the King of Prussia 

 returned to Berlin and Humboldt accompanied him 

 thither. It was not long before he was at Tegel. He 

 found his brother William, and Frau Caroline, and the 

 children there, but not the old castle of his childhood. 

 Only one turret of it remained ; the rest had given place 

 to a new and stately building. The grounds, the trees, 

 the flowers, all were changed ; but so was Humboldt 

 himself. The careless light-hearted boy had passed 

 away, and in his stead was a staid and thoughtful man. 

 He left Tegel when he was fourteen, he returned when he 

 was fifty-four ! What changes had passed over him in 

 that time ! What lands he had seen, what books he had 

 written ! He left Tegel a boy, clever it is true, but un- 

 known : he returned a famous man, known to the world, 

 one of the world's men — a Name ! 



Humboldt remained some months at Tegel and Berlin, 

 enjoying the society of his brother, and his king. The 

 king had long honoured him for his profound knowledge 

 of science, and felt a strong liking for his person and 

 conversation. This liking and honour now took a 

 definite turn ; he solicited Humboldt to remove from 

 Paris, and to come and live in Berlin. His brother, 

 William, and Frau Caroline, joined in this solicitation, 

 and he resolved at last to gratify them. He would 



