laus Julien, member of the Institute of France, who offered physical and orographical (descriptions of mountains) notes, and by whose friendship, as Humboldt publicly declared, he felt himself honoured; Eugène Burnouf, who made, in furtherance of Humboldt's plans, important ethnographical and geographical researches in the Zend books,-studies which Humboldt highly valued. Physical geography was thereby enriched with new sources of valuable information, the acquaintance with the direction, the formation, and the geological peculiarities of the great mountain-chains of Asia. The method of Humboldt to compare continually all elements of science one with the other, produced a wonderful solidity and exactness. The constant direction to similar and to opposite observations in Asia, America, and Europe, laid the foundation of the present position of climatology; in furtherance of which all physical sciences furnished most important explanations.

Only those well initiated in all branches of physical science can here perceive and comprehend Humboldt's greatness. The masses of the people can only admire the mystery of his achievements. Thus Mahlmann, the German editor of "Central Asia," who had already some years previously furnished an in

teresting sketch of Humboldt's achievements, concluded his preface in these words: "If Alexander von Humboldt is the principal origi nator and representative of the spirit of the age which manifests itself in a general endeavour after universality,—and if, for that reason, already each of his works is a valuable legacy for coming generations,-we shall also, in his investigations regarding the formation of the crust of the earth in the Old World, be filled with admiration, in perceiving in Alexander von Humboldt, in unison with the most exhaustive studies of innumerable sources of information, a comprehensive acquaintance in all departments of human knowledge; we shall regard with increasing interest the rare and wonderful talent which enabled Humboldt to comprehend the mutual penetration of all branches of physical science, and the unexpected simplicity in which he presents these facts, together with the everlasting influence which nature exercises upon the life and the destiny of peoples."

But Humboldt did not restrict himself to the investigation of those laws which governed the creation of this world, and which still regulate its existence, exclusively ;-man became also to him an object of observation and meditation.

He learned to know the various tribes of America; and followed the traces of their culture. Thus Humboldt acquaints us with the ancient inhabitants of Mexico and Peru. He made himself intimately acquainted with the condition of these peoples in the Spanish colonies, inasmuch as he could represent their commerce, their mining, their agriculture, their political constitution, their missions, -nay, more, even their peculiar diseases. Humboldt likewise originated another important undertaking, which had for its object to bring the great scenes of nature of the mountain-chains of the Andes, and the memorials of the departed civilization of the aborigines of Central America, before the eyes of Europe in a series of pictures. For the first time appeared in Europe landscapes which, with the artistic conception of a country, united a most faithful representation of nature, and speedily banished, in the higher circles of artistic taste and education, all illusive landscapes; and originated the historical landscape-painting which, especially through Rugendas, and other German and foreign artists of our days, has attained to such great perfection. In the opinion of Alexander von

Humboldt, landscape-painting gave an important and characteristic impulse to the study of nature. The epoch of the greatest landscape-painters was, as well known, the seventeenth century. In that period lived Claude Lorrain, the successful painter of light; Ruysdael, great in dark forests and threatening clouds; Gaspar and Nicolas Poussin, in representing heroic forms of trees; Everdingen, Hobbema, and Cuyp, in faithful representation of nature. Humboldt considered it a higher step in representing individual forms of nature, which could, however, only be accomplished when our geographical knowledge, through travels in foreign climates, became more extended, and the ideas of classification and the conception of beauty more elevated and perfected. We now arrive at the period when single forms of exotic plants, fruits, branches, and blossoms were painted. In this department we recognize John Breughel, the painter of the individual character of the torrid zone; Franz Post, of Harlem; Eckhout, and others.

Although Alexander von Humboldt had accomplished an amount of labour in the earlier period of his life which was rarely equalled,

certainly never surpassed, he did not rest in his latter days from the labours of his very eventful life; the latter years belong to the great impulse he gave to the mathematical investigation of the laws of the earth-magnetism, for which he had prepared the way, by his former observations regarding the oscillations of the magnet-needle. In order further to illuminate this but dark territory, he encouraged, by his name, his influential position, and his scientific counsel, the learned men of all nations to an united effort in search of the laws of the earth-magnetism, and to indicate the changes of physical instruments hitherto used in the service of meteorology; and he originated, in furtherance of the physical sciences in general, the erection of numerous-one corresponding with the other-magnetic observatories, which now, like a great network, are spread over all parts of the earth; and in the desert of Siberia, and in Pekin, formerly closed to all science, these observatories may be found. His fame and influence became so great, that when Russia and England had made great sacrifices, in furtherance of science, and the accomplishment of Humboldt's plans, not only the Pasha of Egypt, but also an Indian prince, offered to increase the number of these magnetic observatories,