WASHINGTON IRVING. 4G I 



million of men supported by their votes a man of Fre- 

 mont's character and achievements.' With regard to 

 Buchanan, he said: 'I had occasion to speak of his 

 Ostend Manifesto not long since, in a letter which has 

 been published, and I could not characterize its spirit by 

 any milder term than savage. 1 He also spoke of our 

 authors, and inquired particularly after Washington 

 Irving, whom he had once seen. I told him I had the 

 fortune to know Mr. Irving, and had seen him not long 

 before leaving New York. ' He must be at least fifty 

 years old,' said Humboldt. ' He is seventy,' I answered, 

 'but as young as ever.' 'Ah,' said he, 'I have lived so 

 long that I have almost lost the consciousness of time. 

 I belong to the age of Jefferson and Gallatin, and I heard 

 of Washington's death while travelling in South America.' 

 " I have repeated but the smallest portion of his con- 

 versation, which flowed on in an uninterrupted stream 

 of the richest knowledge. On recalling it to my mind, 

 after leaving, I was surprised to find how great a number 

 of subjects he had touched upon, and how much he had 

 said, or seemed to have said — for he has the rare faculty 

 of placing a subject in the clearest and most vivid light 

 by a few luminous words — concerning each. He 

 thought, as he talked, without effort. I should compare 

 his brain to the Fountain of Vaucluse — a still, deep, and 

 tranquil pool, without a ripple on its surface, but creating 

 a river by its overflow. He asked me many questions, 

 but did not always wait for an answer, the question 

 itself suggesting some reminiscence, or some thought 



DO O / O 



which he had evident pleasure in expressing. I sat or 

 walked, following his movements, an eager listener, and 

 speakmg in alternate English or German, until the time 



