Prof, Agassiz’s Eulogy on Humboldt. 99 
impulses in a direction which has been so beneficial in advancing 
the true explanation of the secondary phenomena of life; but 
which, at the same time, in its exaggeration as it prevails now 
as degenerated into the materialism of modern investigators. 
In that period of all-embracing activity, he began to study As- 
tronomy. His attention was called to it by Baron von Zach, 
who was a prominent astronomer, and at that time was actively 
engaged upon astronomical investigations in Germany. He 
showed Humboldt to what extent astronomy would be useful for 
him, in his travels, in determining the positions of places, the 
altitude of mountains, &e. 
So prepared Humboldt now broods over his plans of foreign 
travel. He has published his work on the muscular and nerv- 
ous fibre at the age of 28. He has lost his mother; and his 
mind is now inflamed with an ungovernable passion for the sight 
of foreign and especially tropical lands. He goes to Paris to 
make preslatabiod by securing the best astronomical, meteoro- 
logical and surveying instruments. Evidently he does not eare 
where he shall go, for on a proposition of Lord Bristol to visit 
Egypt he agrees to it. The war prevents the execution of this 
plan, and he enters into negotiations to accompany the projected 
expedition of Capt. Baudin to Australia; but when Bonaparte, 
bent on the conquest of Egypt, started with a scientific fo 
tion, Humboldt wishes to join it. He expects ie be one of the 
scientific party, and to en pt by way Se a 
the good impression he has made when there, with 
no other recommendation than that = a friend who happened 
to be at that _time Danis int ourt of oe 
e Orinoco nad its connection Sicalielovith the Amazon. 
a a" — and papier a work of scientific pa 
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