Letters of William Von Humboldt to a Female Friend (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849. Excerpt: ... BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE WILLIAM VON HUMBOLDT. The biographical interest of the following letters has nothing in common with that vulgar hunt after notabilities which has deluged the modern literature of most countries with a weak and often offensive flood of gossip, scandal, and mere personal reminiscence. Their value is of a very different and more enduring kind. They contain the confidential reflections and advice of a rich and highly endowed mind, addressed to one whose sex, misfortunes, and position in life, rendered her peculiarly susceptible of the spiritual consolation and support which it is the aim of these letters to convey, and which she seems to have used so well and prized so highly. They derive little additional interest from the circumstances and history of the writer; and with regard to his correspondent, we know nothing beyond what is contained in the brief but interesting narrative she has herself prefixed to these volumes. Nevertheless, as it happens that the name of the writer has already attained a world-wide celebrity through his younger brother, whose extensive and indefatigable researches have enabled him to add so many rich contributions to geographical science, it has been judged advisable to prefix to this translation the following brief outline of the life-history of the less known, but not less noble and generous, elder brother. William Von Humioldt was born at Potsdam on the 22d June 1767. Berlin was the scene of his early education, and it is easy to imagine that the varied life of the metropolis afforded full scope for the exercise of that acute though contemplative spirit of observation which he subsequently displayed. He continued his studies at the University of Gottingen along with his brother Alexander. It was in 1788, whi...