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JSTo. 477, May 14, 1859] _J,HE LEADER, 6...
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LITEKATUBJ3, SCIENCE, ART, &c
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LITERARY NOTES, ' ETC. «^-—-
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DEATII OF IIUMBOLDT. "We have to record ...
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Academy contains two pictures by him, on...
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Local Etymology: a Derivative Dictionary...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Jsto. 477, May 14, 1859] _J,He Leader, 6...
JSTo . 477 , May 14 , 1859 ] _ J , HE LEADER , 617
Litekatubj3, Science, Art, &C
LITEKATUBJ 3 , SCIENCE , ART , & c
Literary Notes, ' Etc. «^-—-
LITERARY NOTES , ' ETC . «^ - — -
Deatii Of Iiumboldt. "We Have To Record ...
DEATII OF IIUMBOLDT . "We have to record the death of the most illustrious scientific and literary man of the age ; Alexander Von Humboldt , which took place on the afternoon of Friday , May 6 th . The remarkable brothers , William and Alexander Von Humboldt , were descendants of a Pomeranian family . William made himself a memorable name in Germany , and Alexander in the whole civilised world . William , the elder by rather more than two years , was a philosopher in the realms of literature and art , while Alexander devoted himself , not to the study of the human mind or its productions , but to the medium , or environment in which it
lives . Alexander—or , as his name stands at full length , Frederick Henry Alexander Von Humboldt—was born at Berlin in 1769 , on the 1 . 4 th of September . Their father died when they were twelve and ten years old ; but their mother , a cousin of the Princess Blucher , was a woman of fine capacity and cultivation , and the family fortunes were gopd ; so that the boys had every educational advantage . Alexander received his academic training at Gottingen and Frankfort on the Oder , and a part of his scientific instruction at the Mining School of Frieburg . Humboldt ' s preparations for the " Kosmos , " which he considered his crowning work , may be said to
have begun when . lie- became the pupil of Werner the first geologist , at Frieburg , when he was two-andtwenty . He had already travelled in Holland and England , and even published a scientific book—on the Basalts of the Rhine . He was employed as a director of the Government mines ; and in the course of his travels to explore the mineral districts of various countries , he lighted upon Galvani in Italy , and became devoted for a time to the study of animal electricity , and to the observation of some of the phenomena of the animal frame which were supremely interesting to him in his latest days . Thus were his earliest and latest scientific interests linked by the discoveries of the remarkable age in which he lived ; but what an experience had he undergone meantime . He had stood on higher ground than human foot had till then attained . He climbed Chimborazo to the height of 19 , 300 feet , an elevation since then surpassed , but never attained till that June day of 1802 . lie went down into the deepest mines , in pursuit of his geological researches . He not only visited three of the four quarters of the world , but explored parts of them which were then completely savage in the eyes of the civilised world . It was through no remissness of his own that he did not travel in Africa . He
tician . He was made a Councillor of State , and tried his hands at diplomacy . When Alexander came to England with the King of Prussia , on occasion of the baptism of the Prince of Wales , his appearance in the royal suit gave a sort of jar to English associations about the dignity of science . It was felt that that splendid brow wore the true crown ; and many a cheek flushed when the sage played the courtier , and had to consult the royal pleasure about his engagements with our scientific men , as a lacquey asks leave to go out . It is certo that
tain , however , that Humboldt took kindly sort of necessitv . He was a courtier all over . At the same time ~ he was thoroughly generous in the recognition and aid of ability ; or rather , as he was high above all competition , regarding science , as his home , lie looked upon all within that enclosure as his children . It was with a true paternal earnestness and indulgence that he strove for their welfare . Almost every man of science in Germany who has found his place has been conducted to it by Humboldt ; and this , not only by a good use of his influence at court , but by business-like endeavour in
other directions . The hindrance imposed on his scientific researches by his political position was very evident on occasion of life last long journey . By the express desire of the Gzar , he travelled to Siberia , in company with Ehrenberg and Gustav Rose , in 1829 , and explored Central Asia to the very frontier of China . Yet this journey , which , if he had set out from Paris , he would have thought worthy to absorb : some 3 * ears , was hurried over . in nine months , as he happened to set forth from the court of Berlin . He did great things for the time—instituting observatories , improving the Russian methods of mining , kindling intelligence wherever he went , and bringing home
knowledge , more great and various than perhaps any living man but himself lias gained in so short a time . After his return he spent the rest of his life , with intervals . of travel , in maturing the generalisations by which he has done his chief service of all , that of indicating the laws of the distribution of the forms of existence , and especially of biological existence . He also compiled his Kosmos from the substance of sixty-one lectures which he delivered in Berlin in 1827 ^ 8 . His frame wore wonderfully ; and there was ho sign of decay of external sense or in ^ terior faculty while younger men were dropping into the grave , completely worn out . If silent , he was kindly and gentle . If talkative , ho would startle his hearers with a story or scene from
a Siberian steppe or a Peruvian river-side— -fresh and accurate as if witnessed last year , lib forgot no names or dates , any more than facts of a more interesting kind . In the street , he was known to every resident of Berlin and Potsdam , and was pointed out to all strangers , as he walked , slowly and firmly , with his massive head bont a little forward , and his hand at his back holding a pamphlet . He was fond of the society of young men to the last , and was often found present at their scientific processes and meetings for experiment , and-nobody present was moro unpretending and gay . Though lie probably did not say at court what ho said to his intimates elsewhere , " lama democrat of 1789 , " ho used his position and influence to utter things in high places which would hardly have been
otherwise heard there . The rise of so great a naturalist and initiator of physical philosophy at the very crisis of the intellectual fortunes of Gcrniany is a blessing of yet unappreciated value ; unappreciated bocauso it id only the completion of any revolution which can roveal the whblo prior nood of it , If Alexandor Humboldt suffered , more or less ,-from tlio infection of the national uncertainty of thought and obscurity of expression , ho conforrod infinitely more than ho lost by giving a grasp of reality to tho finest minds of his country , and opening a broad now avonuo into theroaltn of nature to bo troddau by all peoples of all times .
was at Marseilles , on his way to Algiers and to the top of Atlas , when . ee ho meant to go to Egypt , when the war , which seemed to stop him at every outlet , turned him back . While chafing under his confinement to Europe , he did . the best ho could within that prison . ' .. When the war x'aged in Italy , ho travelled with Von Bach in Styria , examining the mountains and their productions . When London was inaccessible , ho went to Paris , whero he made the acquaintance of his future comrade , Bonpland . When the war came to Germany , he was off to Spain ; and , there , at last , he met his opportunity . Ho obtained a passage to South America . Ho explored Mexico , landing on its
Pacific side , after having crossed tho Andes ; and then , by way of Cuba , visited tho United Statos , and lived two months in Philadelphia , in 1804 . The world had never seen such scientific wealth as Humboldt brought to Havre , in hid collections in every branch of natural history , illustrated by such a commentary as ho was now qualified to give . Ho planned an encyclopaedia work which should convoy in detail all his discoveries and classified knowledge ; and the issuo of this work was ono of tho mistakes of his life .. which cost him most uneasiness . After twelve years of constant labour he
had issued only four-flffchs of this prodigious series of works ; and it has never boon completed , though portions have dropped out oven within a few years . Before those twelve years wore over—that is , before 1817- —ho had been overtaken in research , and foroetallod in publication , by men whom ho had himself , by his example , inspired and trainod , In tho next year he broiko off from this slavery , and visited Italy . He was in England in 1820 . Ho was then regarded as . an , elderly man—being 07 years old , and notorious for a quautor pf a century . Ho fixed his abode at Berlin , and immediately Jjocamp ft royal favourite , and dpnsequiontly rt pou-
Academy Contains Two Pictures By Him, On...
Academy contains two pictures by him , one entitled " Hotspur and tady Percy , " and tho other " Jeanie Deans and Queen Caroline . " Mr . Rippingille was an artist of considerable merit , hut better knowiv a quarter of a century since than of late years . One of his pictures is in the Vernon Gallery . The death of Mrs . Douglas Jerrold also is announced . Since her husband's death she has
resided in the country ; she was of a most amiable disposition ' ,. ' and is greatly regretted . The New York Tribune says : —" Mr . Bonner announces in our columns this morning that he has asked Mr . Charles Dickens to write a tale expressly for the JYew York Ledger , and that Mr . Dickens has accepted the offer . Speculation is now wide awake on the question whether the proprietor of the Ledger gives Mr . Dickens 20 , 000 or 25 , 000 dollars for this story . " ¦ : __ . . is announced
A biography of Mr . Charles . Kean for publication by Messrs . Saunders , Otley , and Co / Professor . Owen has been elected one of the eight foreign associates of tlie ¦ French Institute , department of the Academy of Sciences , in place of the great botanist , Robert Brown . . * The reading-room of the British Museum was re-opened oh Monday , and will continue open daily from nine to six . The Museum itself will be open to the public on the usual days , from ten to six . ¦
We find the following , in the Critic . —A . contemporary . -states-that a kind of dirty parchmentcovered album , temp . 1744 , county Suffolk , has been sold to Mr . John-Murray for the sum of 100 guineas . It was a volume of letters ( original and unpublished ) writen by Pope and his assistant Fenton , to Fenton ' s fellow-assistant Broome , put ; together : by Bro . onie , when angry , for his own guidance and for tlie ' information of posterity . Mr . Murray ' s new acquisition adds fifty-four unpublished letters written by Pope to the " more than 300 unpublished letters " advertised for publication in the last number of the Quarterhi Review .
la addition to tho nainoa of tho illustrious Von Humboldt and the learned Jbionysius Lardnor , wo have to add to tho list of doulhs this wcok , Mr . C . R , Loslio , U . A ., and Mr . E . V . Rippinglllo . Mr . Leslie was in his sixty-fU'Ui your , and was distinguished both as an author and a painter . From 1848 to 1851 ho filled tho post of professor oi painting at tho Aoadomy , and his lectures which nave lately been published , with additions , us a " Handbook far Young Painters , " form a most valuable contribution to the moans of artistic odu-r cation , Tho proBpnfc exhibition of tho Iioyal
Local Etymology: A Derivative Dictionary...
Local Etymology : a Derivative Dictionary of Geographical JVames . By Richard Stephen Charnock , F . S . A . " ¦ ' ¦ •">¦ Hauls ton and Wright . Why London was not called Paris , nor Paris Iiondon ; how Dover came to be Dover , and what first induced people to make " York " stand for a city in the north , are a sort of questions which every body thinks of now and then . Local namo . s are of human invention , and every city , town , hamlet , hill , and field that lias a name assuredly had once a godfather ; aud , in most cases , it may be assumed that his choice had some reason for it .
There must have been a time when somebody , frequenting a part of the valley of the Thames , first called it London ; and no doubt lie knew why he did so , though our antiquaries have never found it out . In the language which lie spoke , the name , doubtless , expressed sonic obvious characteristic of tlie place—cither that it was a swampy harbour , as some learned gentlemen derive it , or that it was the town which Liul built , as sonic others opine . For , tlie firat nanicr no doubt only felt the necessity for a name when speaking of tho place to others , and , therefore , wi \ s not so much naming as
describing it . Thus , the , greater part of our local names arc derived from ftaxon or British words , descriptive of tho physicjil cliarac'toriatie . s of the locality , and , in most cases , may be still pe rceived to be fit and proper . Simply , to learn flic moaning of certain terminations , such as " pey , " " stoke , "lev , " " combo , " " liythe , " " with , " & o ., would enable tho student to read great part of the . map of . England , Many other names are connected with local historical evonts and popular legends , and are still more interesting , A Dictionary ol i * i-ltitih lincul KtvinoluBCY would bo a book o
reference to which most Englishmen would feel inclined occasionally to refer ; but Mr . Charnoeks work is unsatisiaotory in many respects . It ih moaffro and do / ioicnt in numberless English names of interest , and is nprinklod with names of foreign plaoos Holootod upon no principle , save , wo suspect , that of taking what happened at some tune to boat llio point of tho compiler h wcissors . At hn « no original authority , and generally dooH no moro thau ropoH what the commonest books oi reference say upon the subject . Almost the only ori ginal information with which Mr . Oharnock nan iumishod hits readers , Uqp , as flir us wo uivvo dis-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 14, 1859, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14051859/page/13/
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