ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 135 



A grand way to educate the people ! Would that 

 at the expense of some philanthropist such a 

 course might be given in every city. 



In 1829, at the request of Emperor Nicholas, 

 Humboldt made a scientific expedition to eastern 

 Russia, travelling over nine thousand miles in 

 twenty-five weeks. He was now in his sixtieth 

 year, but he climbed high mountains with no 

 apparent fatigue. 



The emperor was delighted with the results of 

 the expedition, which were published in several 

 volumes. He said, "Your sojourn in Russia has 

 been the cause of immense progress to my coun- 

 try; you spread a life-giving influence wherever 

 you go." He presented Humboldt with a sable 

 cloak worth five thousand rubles, and a malachite 

 vase seven feet high, worth nearly forty thousand 

 rubles. 



The death of friends saddened this busy year, 

 1829. William's wife had died, and left him 

 utterly desolate. In his ministry to several coun- 

 tries, she had honored and graced his diplomatic 

 positions. He did not long survive her. " Wholly 

 given up to grief," said Alexander, "he seeks in 

 the depth of his misery the only consolation that 

 can render life supportable, while he occupies 

 himself with intellectual pursuits as with the 

 drudgery of a task." 



He died four years later, tenderly watched over 

 by his illustrious brother, to whom he said in 

 dying, " Think of me of^ten, but always with cheer- 



