116 ALEXANDER VON HUMliOLDT. 



alization of my views on nature, and in the 

 strengthening and development of that which had 

 already dawned in me, before those happy days of 

 intimate friendship." 



In the latter part of 1790, Humboldt went to 

 Hamburg, to enter the School of Commerce. He 

 wished to study political economy further, and to 

 learn practical book-keeping. He wrote to a friend : 

 "I am contented with my mode of life at Hamburg, 

 but not happy, less happy even than at Gottingen, 

 where the monotony of my existence was relieved 

 by the society of one or two friends and the vicin- 

 ity of some moss-grown mountains. I am, however, 

 always contented when I feel that I am accomplish- 

 ing the purpose I have in view. . . . My leisure 

 hours are occupied with geology and botany. . . . 

 In addition, I have begun to learn Danish and 

 Swedish." 



To Wegener he writes: "I have made consider- 

 able progress in general information, and I am 

 beginning to be somewhat more satisfied with my 

 attainments. I worked very hard at Gottingen, 

 but all I have learned makes me feel only the 

 more keenly how much remains still to know. 

 My health suffered severely, but improved some- 

 what during my journey with Foster; yet even 

 here I continue so closely occupied that I find it 

 difficult to spare myself. There is an eager im- 

 pulse within me, which often carries me, I fear, 

 beyond the bounds of reason; and yet such impet- 

 uosity is always necessary to insure success." 



