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2B0 The Leader and Saturday Analyst. |_ ...
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ANTONY GUNTHER. M ODJSBN philosophy in G...
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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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Iiumboldt's Letters.* Hpo An Englishman ...
Although much younger than HumbolDt , he was , to use an expression of the latter , " the first to be . removed from earthly things : and at his death , which happened in October , 1858 , his papers fell into the hands of his niece , Xudmilla Assing , by whom the present volume has been published in fulfilment , as she says * of a duty to the memory of Humboldt . The letters bear no appearance of being like those of' Hobaoe Waieole , written for publication ; but Xudmilla Assin g was intimately acquainted with Humbolpt , and there is no reason to suppose she has given them to the world in opposition to his will . We have appended to this notice a series of extracts , comprehending this passages which have excited the loudest comments ; but there are other indications of the character of the writer which ought not to be overlooked . On . the 24 th
October , 1834 , he tells Vabnhagen that he has begun printing his work , ¦ " the work of his life , " and adds , " I have the mad purpose of picturing the whole material world—all that I see to-day of-its phenomena in celestial spaces and in terrestrial life , from . nebulous stars down to the geography of the lichens upon the granite rocks . . . . . It must mark sin epoch in the intellectual development of man . " After dilating on the character and contents of the proposed work , he states that he began to write it in French fifteen years ago , and called it " Essai sur la Physique du Monde . "In Germany I first intended to call it the Book of Nature , after Albebtus Magnus ; now my title is Kosmos . He further informs
us that his brother ' s decision was in favour of the latter name , and he begs Vabnhagen to cast a critical eye over the MS . which he sends . " In a postscript , he remarks , "The chief fault of my style is an unhappy tendency to poetical forms , a long participial construction , and too great a concentration / of manifold views and feelings into a single sentence . ... - A book of Nature must yield the impress of Nature herself . " In April , 1835 , HumbOidt writes to his friend in a very different mood , for his beloved and celebrated brother was dying . He describes , in a few words , his huppy frame Of mind , filled with " love and consolation . " " Soon he hoped to be ¦ with our mother , and to have an insight into , $ higher sphere ¦
( Weltordnurig ) . ' - __ Among the miscellaneous political matter we find Vaexhagen describing a conversation with Humboidt , in which the latter told him he had heard the Emperor of Russia ( Nicholas ) express great dislike to the proceedings of the English in the East , and declare that he would do his best to overthrow our Indian empirea truly benevolent intention , which he tried to fiilfil . . The letters of METTEMficH to Humboldt are very curious . In one lie describes three sorts of men ; " realsavants , whose number is very limited ; friends of science in general , or of some science in particular—a numerous class ; and the third , and uiost numerous , are dry souls * narrow minds , mere livers , who are often good people , but for whom arts and sciences are superfluous . " He classed himself with the second sort , and went on to talk , in a mechanical kind
of way , of the success of his efforts in forming philosophers and useful workers in the Austrian dominions . In another epistle he tells Humboldt that in early life , he desired to have devoted his time to science , but -tl . uvt circumstances threw him into practical life . There are thousands who will heartily wish he had carried out his original intention , as the world would not have suffered much from an indifferent philosopher , and would have been well quit of an unprincipled politician . When MEa-TEBNicn : read Kqsmos he wrote to the author to express his admiration , and especially commended Humboxpt for having brought the word " discipline " into honour by speaking of the discipline of learning ; and ' the evil-minded diplomatist added , " God grant that this idea may conquer its everlasting rights over civil society . " , What Austrian "discipline " was , the infamous crimes perpetrated in Italy and Hungary may tell . . .. '
_ _ . . . , Guizor writes to Humboldt from London ( August 1840 ) , in a formal , affected sort of tone . He regrets the departure of JBulow , for " conversation' —true conversation , cultivated and free , is very rare here . " Abago writes in a much more natural and manly way . He assures Humbolidt that , " outside his own family , he is of all the world the man he loves most tenderly , " and that " he is of all his friends thq only one be relies upon in difficult eireurinstances , " The letter in which these passages occur , vvas given by Humbqldt to Varnjocagen , with a note appended to it enjoining him / to keep it in strict privacy until Abago ' s death . In another letter , written , in 1834 , AttAGO continues : ?• All that J see daily in ' this lower , world * of baseness , servility , and ignoble passions , make mo look with sangfroid at those events about which mankind concern themselves most . " . ,
Wo find an illustration of Humjboldt ' s kindliness of heart m a letter to Yaenhagen , dated 1 st April , 1844 , in which he comments upon various letters sent for his friend ' s collection ,. including one from Sir Kobebt Pjeei ., notifying thoihot of asinall pension having been awarded to Hobeoit Bbown . Humboldt soys , " They wrote to me from Oxford , that the first botanist in Europe , Bobjgkt Bbx > wn , suddenly found himsolf In great need of money , and Sir Rqbekt Peel , at my solicitation , lias granted him one of four small pensions which pavhunaenfc lms assigned to learned men . This has delighted mo . " It must not bo supposed that HxrMBOMjT ' e animosity to n certain faction was without eufflotent cause * Its moinbevs hated him for his intejleofc and liberal opinions , and would g ladly have got rid of hini if they could have had their way . This is fihown by n note of Vaknhagu 3 w ' s , 20 th December , 1845 , to thin effect : " JIumboldt called upon my , and remained nu hour . Ilmuarknblo news . JBCc assured mo that wore it not for liia connection with tlio Court , ho could not live here any longer , but would be . driven out , ho much did
the Ultras and Pietists hate him . It wbb incredible how strenuously they tried , day by dayj to set the King against him , and lie would not be tolerated in other German States if he were deprived of the protection and glitter of . his appointment . " In 1845 the Queen and Pbince Albebt visited the Rhine , and from some cause , never very clearly explained , but supposed to be connected with questions of etiquette , the Boyal pair were not in their happiest mood . This may have had something to do with the unfortunate impression His Royal Highness made upon the Great Philosopher , but we cannot agree with him about the " wooden letter" which he says the Prince wrote to him . We ' shall give a literal translation , and our readers will see it is by no means a bad epistle for a gentleman of his exalted rank .
Koyalty in Germany has not presented itselt tor these many years in very enviable colours , and Humboldt seems to have been thoroughly weary of the absurd pretensions of royal people . Hence lie sends VABNHAGENa translation from ANTONioPEBEZ . andevidently enjoyed the republican prophecy at its conclusion . Antonio Perez said , " It is because I desire the preservation of kings that I advise them to remain within their permitted boundaries . A prudent counsellor said to Philip II . when he endeavoured to make his power absolute , " Senor , remember the supremacy of God over earth as . well as Heaven ,- in order that Gor > may not become weary of monarchies , which are a mild form of Government if used with moderation . Gop in Heaven is too jealous to sunvr companionship ,, and He is outraged by every abuse of : human authority . If Gop
grows tired of monarchies He will give the ( political ) world another form . ' " A man capable of such expectations must have appeared a very terrible person in a court which did not cherish one liberal or enlightened idea . His sentiments certainly did not agree with those of his weak-spirited master , who kept maundering over Legitimist restorations , and had no conception of the force of events or the wjSnts of his time . . Even in 1847 we find the following description in VABNHAGEN ' s ^ diary : * 31 st March—Humboldt said to me yesterday , The king believes firmly in Don Mjguel , Don Carlos , and the fall of the July dynasty , and that lie will yet travel to Paris to greet the legitimist sovereign . " Humboldt himself was reckoned as " a Jacobin , who carried a tricolour flag in his pocket . "
Illustrations are plentiful of the dislike of the king and his ministers to Constitutional Government , and Humboldt appears to have acted the part of a patriotic statesman , and . exerted-himself . continually in favour of liberal ideas , although by so doing he made many enemies arid endangered his position with the Court . In 1850 , as will be seen below , lie speaks of the " gloomy period of reaction , " indicating a frame of mind widely different from that of the courtiers who were i ; ejoicing at the successful crimes of kings . Scarcely any information is given about 1848 , and it is believed that Ludmilla Assing must be in possession both of letters of Humboldt and entries by her uncle , which have been suppressed for prudential reasons , but which may see the / light when it is safe to tell in a German city the real history of that revolutionary year .
The deep esteem in which Humboldt was held is shown in somo remarks of Vaknhaoen in 1857 , when the great philosopher was ill . " Should we lose Humboldt it would be an irreparable injury . He is the counterpoise to so much that is bad and mean , and which , after his death , will grow lively , and spread far and wide . Honour and learning arc united in hiiii , and will both sink ' when' he is . no more . INo name in Giermany or in Europe equals his ; ho reputation in Berlin was greater or better recognised than his . And how painful would his loss be to me ! I have known his friends for morethan fifty years of my life , and he has also known those trusted and dear to me . " ...
We close our remarks on Humboldt ' s personal character with an anecdote which Varnhagen tells of his devotion to science , and which seems almost incredible in a physiological point of view . " Humboldt told me that when ho was busy with magnetic observations , he once , for seven consecutive days and nights , went every half-hour to the magnetic station , having during that time no regular sleep , " •¦ ¦¦ ,.. , . . With reference to the extracts which wo have subjoined , opinions will not differ much , as in the main the correctness of their
strictures will bo admitted , and we Can understand that the publication of such a mass of political opinion , emanating from a man of high character and splendid talents , and in a position to see clearly what influences were at work , will strengthen the lumds of the- liberal party in Gcrinany , and encourage them to persevere . It ia unfortunate that Pbinojb Albert ( should have incurred somuch animosity j but persons conspicuous from artificial rank do not always remember how much loftier ia the dignity of nature ' s nobility . Many queens may fi » d husbands before another Humboldt sheds the light of genius upon the world . We shall , woxt week , give guv translations of tt portion of the Diary .
2b0 The Leader And Saturday Analyst. |_ ...
2 B 0 The Leader and Saturday Analyst . |_ March 24 , 1860 .
Antony Gunther. M Odjsbn Philosophy In G...
ANTONY GUNTHER . M ODJSBN philosophy in Gominny , in Europe , is the offspring of Proteatunfcisrn . It is the fruit of the application to inmdoj thut principle of individual inquiry which Protestantism had applied to ftiiih . Most absurd is it , then , to apeak of DjissqAUTJBS as he to whom wo are indebted , for all modern philosophy . That a new philoaophy could spring" from the prodigious discovery of Di ? 80 ABTn 9—that ho thpught , and that , therefore , he existed—a discovery wherein the lessor ia supposed to prove the greater , cw bo admitted by no ono who . known how vnsfc is the realin wruou philosophy embraces . Dbsoabtisb was a gifted geometrician , buv
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 24, 1860, page 12, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24031860/page/12/
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