PERSONAL HABITS. 453 



quite charmed with the noble and genial nature whose 

 richness has made it the glory of the age. 



" The habits of Humboldt are not remarkable, except 

 in the limited number of hours necessary to sleep, and in 

 temperance and regularity. His time is sj^stematically 

 divided. He rises at six in the winter, and five in the 

 summer, studies two hours, drinks a cup of coffee, re- 

 turns to his study, and commences the task of answering 

 his letters, of which he receives yearly more than one 

 hundred thousand. (I have heard this number doubled, 

 but dislike to seem to exaggerate.) From twelve until 

 two he receives visits, and returns to work at two. At 

 four he dines, in summer with the kinor, in winter at 

 home. From four until eleven he passes at the table, 

 and generally in company with the king, but sometimes 

 at the meetings of learned societies, or in the company of 

 his friends. At eleven he retires to his study, and con- 

 tinues there until one or two, answering letters, or 

 writing his books, or preparing them by study. His best 

 books have all been written at midnight. He sleeps four 

 hours, it having been a peculiarity in his family to re- 

 quire little sleep. Now, if anybody thinks that by sleep- 

 ing only four hours, and studying at midnight, he may 

 equal Hamboldt in varied attainments, let him first be 

 sure that he possesses another of Humboldt's peculiari- 

 ties, namely, genius. 



" His early inclinations led him to the pursuits in which 

 he has since so distinguished himself. At twenty-three 

 he was in such repute for his knowledge that he was ap- 

 pointed first assessor of the mines of Prussia. From a 

 very early age, then, up to the present time, about two- 

 thirds of a century, he has been indefatigable in the pur- 



