392 John Bach man. 



Sherman's vandal army, and, with the exception of 

 a single letter, which, by accident, fell into the 

 hands of another member of my family, I possess no 

 memorials of one who condescended to speak of me 

 us a friend. 



Thirty-four years passed away, and I was once 

 more permitted to renew a personal intercourse 

 which had so long been interrupted. Arriving in 

 Berlin, he was the first to welcome me, and to extend 

 those civilities which enabled me to feel myself at 

 home among the men of learning and science in my 

 fatherland. Although years had passed away, time 

 had wrought but very little change in his counte- 

 nance, or in his habits. He was the same cheerful, 

 pleasant companion, the same indefatigable student, 

 giving but four hours to sleep, and laboring in his 

 studies with uninterrupted zeal. 



When about to separate, we arranged to renew 

 our intercourse again at the Association of Natural- 

 ists, who were to meet that year at Freyburg in the 

 Duchy of Baden, where were to be congregated the 

 most eminent Naturalists of Europe. The members 

 all dined at a common table, but our breakfast and 

 tea were served up in private apartments. An op- 

 portunity was thus afforded us for private inter- 

 course and conversation with friends. We made 

 arrangements to welcome Humboldt into the small 

 group who breakfasted and took tea together. A 

 few of the eminent Naturalists of Europe composed 

 our little party. Professor Buckland, of Oxford, 

 was there, and his lady presided at our cheerful 

 board. Professor Owen, of England, assisted in 

 forming the party. But we were doomed to dis- 

 appointment. Humboldt was detained, by order of 

 the King, in Prussia, and wrote to express his re- 

 gret that he could not be with us. 



I never expected to meet him again, but late in 



