394  DEATH  OF  HUMBOLDT. 
to  Mexico,  where  they  remained  for  several  months,  pursuing  their  researches 
in  the  volcanic  regions,  and  making  rich  and  valuable  collections  in  natural 
history.  In  March,  1804,  after  exploring  numerous  localities  on  the  Mexican 
coast,  Humboldt  sailed  to  Havana,  where  he  remained  for  two  months,  gather- 
ing and  arranging  the  materials  for  his  "Political  Essay  on  Cuba"  (Paris, 
1826).  He  next  directed  his  attention  to  the  United  States,  and  accompanied 
by  Bonpland,  visited  Philadelphia  and  Washington,  where  he  was  treated  with 
distinguished  attention  by  President  Jefferson,  and  after  a  brief  sojourn,  sailed 
for  Bordeaux  in  July,  1804. 
He  now  took  up  his  temporary  abode  in  Paris,  where,  in  connection  with 
Gay-Lussac,  he  devoted  himself  to  chemical  researches,  chiefly  on  the  compo- 
sition of  the  atmosphere,  until  the  following  March.  After  a  journey  to  Italy, 
he  returned  to  Berlin  in  December,  1805.  In  1807  he  accompanied  Prince 
William  of  Prussia  on  a  political  mission  to  France,  and  with  a  view  to  the 
publication  of  his  works,  made  Paris  his  residence  until  1827.  The  first  por- 
tion of  his  great  work,  "  Voyage  to  the  Equinoctial  Regions  of  the  New  Conti- 
nent," was  published  in  Paris  in  1809.  In  the  Winter  of  1827  he  delivered  a 
course  of  lectures  in  Berlin  on  the  "  Cosmos,"  which  were  the  foundation  of 
his  celebrated  work  of  that  name. 
In  1829,  Humboldt  was  commissioned  by  the  Emperor  Nicholas  to  make  an 
expedition  to  the  Altai  and  Ural  Mountains,  with  a  view  to  examining  the 
mineral  treasures  of  those  regions.  The  tour  extended  through  Moscow,  Kasan, 
Tobolsk,  and  Barnaul  to  the  Chinese  frontier.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  two 
friends,  Ehrenberg  and  Gustav  Rose.  The  journey,  which  occupied  nine  months, 
is  described  in  "  Central  Asia "  (Paris,  1843).  This  journey  furnished  the 
most  valuable  contributions  to  the  science  of  physical  geography.  New  light 
was  thrown  on  the  volcanic  agencies  in  Central  Asia  :  many  important  facts 
were  set  forth  on  the  soil,  climate,  and  connection  of  the  mountain  chains  ; 
and  owing  to  the  interest  which  it  awakened,  a  regular  system  of  observations 
was  established  by  the  Imperial  Academy  of  St.  Petersburg,  throughout  the 
Russian  Empire,  for  the  purpose  of  noting  the  changes  in  meteorolgical  phe- 
nomena. 
The  political  movements  of  1830  gave  the  activity  of  Humboldt  a  political 
direction  to  a  certain  extent,  but  without  diverting  his  attention  from  the  pur- 
suits of  science.  In  May,  he  attended  the  Crown  Prince  of  Prussia  to  the  last 
Diet  of  Warsaw,  and  soon  after  was  with  the  King  at  Teplitz  ;  and  on  the  ac- 
cession of  Louis  Philippe,  was  commissioned  by  Frederic  William  III.  to  ac- 
knowledge the  new  dynasty  at  Paris,  and  to  forward  political  intelligence  from 
that  capital  to  Berlin.  He  received  many  similar  commissions  within  the 
course  of  the  next  twelve  years,  which  required  him  to  spend  a  considerable 
portion  of  his  time  in  Paris. 
Since  1842,  Humboldt  has  resided  at  Berlin,  engaged  in  the  preparation  of 
u  Cosmos,"  which  sums  up  the  observations  of  a  long  life  on  what  may  be 
termed  the  "  Harmonies  of  the  Universe,"  receiving  visits  from  strangers  of 
every  nation,  who  were  attracted  by  his  scientific  fame,  carrying  on  an  exten- 
sive correspondence  with  men  of  learning  in  various  departments  of  research, 
and  cherishing  the  curiosity  of  youth  with  regard  to  every  new  discovery  and 
phenomenon  in  the  realms  of  nature. 
Humboldt  was  remarkable  for  combining  the  fruits  of  his  own  observations 
with  the  exhibition  of  whatever  had  been  accomplished  by  other  investigators 
in  the  field  of  physical  inquiry.  In  this  comprehensive  department  he  was 
equally  eminent  as  an  explorer  and  a  historian.  As  he  detected  every  pheno- 
menon with  wonderful  sagacity,  so  he  recorded  every  discovery  with  unparal- 
leled fidelity.  This  is  not  the  place  to  give  an  account  of  his  contributions  to 
science.  His  positive  additions  to  the  treasures  of  human  knowledge  would 
fill  many  volumes.  But  what  will  ever  distinguish  Humboldt  from  the  mass  of 
physical  inquirers  who  had  preceded  him,  is  his  study  of  the  universe  as  a  har- 
monious whole,  and  his  search  for  the  laws  of  order,  beauty,  and  majesty  be- 
neath the  apparent  confusion  and  contradictions  of  isolated  appearances. — AT.  Y. 
Tribune. 
