AT SANS SOUCI. 439 



but one object in it I had any special desire to see, and 

 that was — Humboldt. I might visit Berlin again, the 

 other monuments of the city would remain ; but he 

 might pass away. 



"Early in the morning I called upon Mr. Donaldson, 

 our minister, and to my extreme regret learned from him 

 that Baron Humboldt was with the king at Potsdam, 

 thirty miles distant, in feeble health, and unable to 

 receive visitors. Fortunately I had occasion to call 

 upon Baron Yon Rcenne, formerly Prussian Minister to 

 this country, and incidentally mentioning to him my 

 disappointment and regret, he stopped me abruptly, and 

 with friendly earnestness said, that I must not leave 

 Berlin without seeing Baron Humboldt, at the same 

 time looking at his watch, calling up my servant, telling 

 him that the cars for Potsdam started at twelve ; and 

 hastily writing a line of introduction, without allowing 

 me time for acknowledgments, he hurried me off to my 

 carriage. A brisk ride brought me to the depot just in 

 time for the cars ; three quarters of an hour carried us 

 to Potsdam, and almost before I had recovered from my 

 surprise I was at Baron Humboldt's residence. 



" It was in the royal palace, a stately and historic pile, 

 once the residence of Frederick the Great, with his apart- 

 ments remaining in the same state in which he left them. 

 One wing was now occupied by Baron Humboldt, and it 

 seemed a just tribute and a right reward — a proper 

 crowning of his fame, alike honourable to prince and 

 subject, that after years of travel, of physical and intel- 

 lectual labour, he should, in the evening of his days, 

 return to the town in which he was born, to live in the 

 royal palace, the guest and friend of his king. 



