CHAPTER II. 



BACK TO TEGEL. 



Towards the end of April, 1859, the citizens of Berlin 

 began to miss His Excellency, the Baron Yon Humboldt. 

 They met him no longer in the street in the afternoon 

 walking towards the palace ; neither did they see him at 

 twilight in his favourite haunt, Unter den Linden. 

 " Where is His Excellency ?" they asked, but none 

 could answer. In a few days the question was changed 

 to " How is His Excellency ?" for they had learned in 

 the meantime that he was ill. The postboy still made 

 his morning calls at the famous little house in the Ora- 

 nienburger-strasse, and from time to time through the day 

 carriages stopped near by, and stately gentlemen, deco- 

 rated with orders, alighted and rang the bell softly. 



On the morning of the 3rd of May, the journals of 

 Berlin announced his illness. 



" Alexander Yon Humboldt has been confined to his 

 bed for the last twelve days; his strength has been 

 gradually failing ; his mind retains all its clearness, 

 though his power of expression has decreased. In the 

 dangerous condition of the revered patient, the greatest 

 care and precaution against all excitement is neces- 

 sary." 



