1888, 121 
Mr. Garrett in presenting the portrait made the following 
remarks: 
“About the year 1856, while Mr. Alexander Dallas Bache was sitting 
to Mr. Lambdin for his portrait, the latter suggested a plan by which the 
Smithsonian Institution could materially aid schools in this country in 
procuring copies of the best foreign works of art. Having received the 
approval of the Board of Regents, Mr. Bache furnished Mr. Lambdin, 
who was about to visit Europe, with credentials from the Smithsonian to 
various eminent persons abroad, among others to. Baron von Humboldt. 
It occurred to Mr. Bache apropos of the latter, that it would afford the 
artist a capital opportunity to obtain a portrait of Humboldt, which he 
would like to have for the American Philosophical Society, and Mr. Gilpin 
joining him in the purpose, they authorized Mr. Lambdin to paint a por- 
trait of the savant, agreeing to see it presented to the Society upon its com- 
pletion. Mr. Lambdin had an excellent opportunity with the Baron, with 
whom he spent the larger part of a day, on his arrival in Berlin. Hum- 
boldt was at that time the King’s Chamberlain, and said that he would 
shortly have to go to Potsdam to attend the King, but would give Mr. 
Lambdin further sittings on his return to Berlin. He was then 87 years 
old, alittle man, very much bent, extremely courteous, and was much 
pleased that his portrait was wanted for the American Philosophical So- 
ciety, expressing gratitude to his friend Mr. Bash (Bache) that he had 
thought of it. 
“The result is before the Society in an admirable and speaking likeness, 
and, to my mind, no more appropriate portrait adorns the walls of a 
Society whose scope is so philosophical and broad as that of this learned 
body. 
‘‘A terse and comprehensive description of the renowned philosopher 
is found in the following paragraph from the Edinburgh Review of 1848 : 
“Science has produced no man of more rich and varied attainments, 
more versatile in genius, more indefatigable in application to all kinds of 
learning, more energetic in action, or more ardent in inquiry.’ 
“The same Review describes him as possessing ‘a genial and kindly 
temperament, which excites no enmities, but, on the contrary, finds or 
makes friends everywhere. No man in the ranks of Science is more dis- 
tinguished for this last characteristic than A. v. Humboldt. We believe 
that he has not an enemy.’ : 
“Tt only remains for me formally to present the picture on behalf of the 
donors, whose names follow, and this I have great pleasure in doing. I 
should add that the carrying out of the original intention was prevented 
by the illness of Messrs. Bache and Gilpin, before the completion of the 
work, followed by their death.’’ 
On motion the committee was discharged and the thanks of 
PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. xxv. 127, P. PRINTED APRIL 80, 1888. 
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