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Leader (1850-1860), 14th May 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 617, Untitled Article

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    • LITEKATUKE, SCIENCE, ART, <fcc.
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      Untitled Article

      DEATII OF HtrMBOLDT . We have to record the death of the most illustrious scientific and literary mail 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 tvro 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 14 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 good ; 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 " Kosmbs , " which lie considered his crowning work , may be said to have begun when he became the pupil of Werner the

      first geologist , at Frieburg , when , he was twp-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 disti'icts 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 ah 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 . He went down into the deepest mines , in pursuit of his geological re-Boarches . 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 was at Marseilles , pn his way to Algiers and to the top of Atlas , whence he meant to go to , Egyptj 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 he could within that prison . When the war raged in Italy , ho " travelled with Von Bach in Styria , examining the mountains a , nd their productions . When London was inaccessible , he went to Paris , whore ho made the acquaintance of his future comrade , Bonpland . When the wnr came to Germany , he way off to Spain ; and , there , at last , ho met his opportunity . He obtained a passago to South America . He explored Mexico , landing on its Pacific side , after having crossed the Andes ; and then , by way of Cuba , visited the United States , and lived , t \ vo month ? in Philadelphia , in 1804 . The world had never seen such scientific wealth as

      Humtician . 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 iu 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

      certain , however , that Humboldt took kindly to that ¦ sort of necessity . He was a courtier all over . At the same time lie 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 oh his scientific researches by his political position was very evident on occasion of his last long journey . By the express desire of the Czar , he travelled to Siberia , in company with Ehrenberg and Gustay Hose , 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 years , 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 liying nian but himself has 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 iu Berlin in 1827-8 , His frame wore wonderfully ; and there was no sign of decay of external sense or interior faculty while younger men were dropping into the grave , completely worn out . If silent , he was kindly and gentle . If talkative , he 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 . He 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 bent 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 processos and meetings for experiment , and nobody present was more unpretending and gay . Though he probably did not say at court what he said to his intimates elsewhere , "I am a 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 Germany js a blessing of ; yot unanpvociated value -, unappreciated because it ia pnly the completion of any revolution which can reveal the whole prior need of it , If Alexander Humboldt s uttered , more or less , from the infection of the national uncertainty of thought and obscurity of expression , ho conferred iniinitoly more than ho lost by giving a grasp of reality to the fluoat minds of his country , and oponing a broad new uvonuo into the realm of nature to bo trodden by all peoples of all t linos . ' ¦»

      bpldt brought to Havre , in hid collections in every branch of natural history , illustrated by such u commentary as ho was now qualified to give . He planned an encyclopaedic work which should convey in detail all his discoveries and classified knowledge -, and the issue of this work was one of the mistakes of his lifo . . which cost him most uneasiness . After twelve years of constant labour he . had issued only four-fifths of this prodigious sin-lea of works ; and it has never boon completed , though

      portions have dropped out evon within a few years . Before those twelve years , wore over—that ia , before 1817- ^ -ho had been overtaken in resoarcli , and forestalled in publication , by men whom ho had himself , by his example , inspired and trainod . In tho next year ho broke off from this slavery , and visited Italy . Ho was in England in 1820 . Ho was then regarded as an elderly man— -being 57 yours old , and notorious for a . quarter of a century . * lie fixed his abode at Berlin , and . immediately beoftmo a royal fuyourlto , and consequently a poll-

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      Academy contains two pictures by him , one entitled " Hotspur and Lady Percy , " and tho other " Jeanie Deans and Queen Caroline . " Mr . Rippingille was an artist of considerable merit , but better known a quarter of a centui * y since than of late years . One of his pictures is in the . Vernon Gallery . The death of Mi's . 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 lias 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 . "

      A biography of Mr . Charlc 3 Kean is announced for publication by Messrs . Saundevs , Otley , ami Co . Professor Owen has been elected one of the eight foreign associates of the 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 on 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 ) writeri by Pope and his assistant Fentoiv to Fenton ' s fellow-assistant Broome , put together by Broome , when angry , for his own guidance and for the information of posterity . Mr . Murray ' s new acquisition adds fifty-four unpublished letters written by Pope to the " more than 3 Q 0 unpublished letters " advertised for publication in the last number of the Quarterly Heview .

      In addition to tho namos of tho illustrious Von Muioboldt and tho learned Dionysi ' us Lardnor , wo have to add to the list of doaths ( Iris week , Mr . C . O . Leslio , R . A ., and Mr . K . V . Rippingillo . Mr . Leslie was in hits sixty-fifth year , and was distinguished both as an author and a painter . From 1848 to 1851 ho flUod , tho pout of professor of painting at tho Academy , and his lectures which have lately boon published , with additions , as a " Handbook for Young rah ) tors , " form a moat valuable contribution to the moans of artistic oducatlon . TJUo prooout exhibition of tlto Royal

      Untitled Article

      Local Etymology : « Derivative Dictionary of Geographical JVarnes . By Richard Stephen Cliarnock , F . S . A . lioulston and Wi-ight . Why- London was not called Paris , nor Paris London ; 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 names are of human invention , and every city , town , hamlet , hill , and field that has a name assuredly had once a godfather ; and , in most cases , it may be assumed that hid 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 he knew why he d id so , though our antiquaries have never found it out . In the language which he spoke , the name , doubtless , expressed sonic obvious characteristic of the place—either that it was a swampy harbour , as some learned gentlemen derive it , or that it watt the town which Liul built , as some others opine . Fox ' , the first nn-mer no doubt only felt the necessity for a name when speaking of the place to others , and , therefore ., was not . so much naming as describing it . Thus the greater part of our local

      names arc derived from Saxon or British words , descrip tive of tho physical characteristics of the locality , and , in most casey , may be still perceived to be lit and proper . Simply , to lourn the muanmg of oertain terminations , such as " sey , " " stoke , ?' ley , " " combo , " "hythe , " " wich , " &o ., would enable tho student to read groat part of tho map of England . . Many other ihuihw are connected with local historical cvonts and i > opulm \ it > £ onds , and are still more interesting . A Dictionary at i » . , i * r _ l 'i . ii . LI ....... «**< fcnljT 11 # > n . liOOK . Ol ttritish Local Etymology wouw "it »» " »•

      o «; refcrenoe to which most Englishmen would fed inolined occasionally to rofbr ; but Mr . Gharnock s work is unsatisfactory in many respects . It w meairro and deficient in numberless English names of interest , and is sprinkled with names of foreign places selected upon no principle savo , wo busbeet , that of taking what happened at some tuna o bo at tho point of tho compiler ' s scissors . It has no original authority , mid generally does no rhoro tlmu report what tho commonest books ol referent suy upon the subject . Almost the only original information , with winch Mr . Ghnmook « utJ ta'iitoUoil Ui » mders , lion , « s ft \ r nn wo have dis-

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      LITERARY NOTES , ETC . - ¦ —«• —— -

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      Ho . 477 , MAy 14 , 1859 . 1 THE LEADER , 617

      Litekatuke, Science, Art, &Lt;Fcc.

      LITEKATUKE , SCIENCE , ART , < fcc .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 14, 1859, page 617, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2294/page/13/