The Invention of Nature (61 page)

29 ‘greatly respected’: Ibid.

30 AH wants to move to Latin America: AH to Bolívar, 21 March 1826, O’Leary 1879–88, vol.12, p.237; WH to CH, 2 September 1824, WH CH Letters 1910–16, vol.7, p.218.

31 ‘Alexander always envisages’: WH to CH, 2 September 1824, ibid.

32 British scientists in Paris: Davy dined with AH on 19 April 1817, AH Letters USA 2004, p.146; Charles Babbage and John Herschel in 1819, Babbage 1994, p.145.

33 ‘derived pleasure from’: Charles Babbage, 1819, Babbage 1994, p.147.

34 Humboldt talked faster: William Buckland to John Nicholl, 1820, Buckland 1894, p.37.

35 Lyell met AH: Charles Lyell to Charles Lyell sen., 21 and 28 June 1823, Lyell 1881, vol.1, pp.122–4.

36 ‘a famous lesson’: Charles Lyell to Charles Lyell sen., 28 August 1823, ibid., p.146.

37 AH’s English skills: Charles Lyell to Charles Lyell sen., 3 July 1823, ibid., p.126.

38 ‘Hoombowl’: Charles Lyell to Charles Lyell sen., 28 June 1823, ibid., p.124.

39 new understanding of climate: Körber 1959, p.301.

40 ‘vergleichende Klimatologie’: AH Cosmos 1845–52, vol.1, p.312; AH Kosmos 1845–50, vol.1, p.340.

41 Lyell connected climate and geology: Charles Lyell to Poulett Scrope, 14 June 1830, Lyell 1881, vol.1, p.270; see also Lyell 1830, vol.1, p.122.

42 ‘read up’ on Humboldt: Charles Lyell to Gideon Mantell, 15 February 1830, Lyell 1881, vol.1, p.262.

43 influences on heat distribution: Körber 1959, p.299ff.

44 Lyell’s conclusions: Lyell 1830, vol.1, p.122; see also Wilson 1972, p.284ff.

45 moment of ‘a beginning’: Charles Lyell to Poulett Scrope, 14 June 1830, Lyell 1881, vol.1, p.269

46 ‘geological application’: Ibid, p.270.

47 ‘he eats dry bread’: CH to WH, 14 April 1809, WH CH Letters 1910–16, vol.3, p.131; see also Carl Vogt, January 1845, Beck 1959, p.201.

48 AH at hub of spinning wheel: AH to Simón Bolívar, 29 July 1822, Minguet 1986, p.749; this was Jean-Baptiste Boussingault, Podach 1959, pp.208–9.

49 AH and Jefferson: AH to Jefferson, 20 December 1811, TJ Papers RS, vol.4, p.352; this was José Corrêa da Serra; AH also introduced the Italian Carlo de Vidua to Jefferson in 1825, AH to Jefferson, 22 February 1825, Terra 1959, p.795 and AH Letters USA 2004, pp.122–3.

50 ‘laid the foundation’: Justus von Liebig about AH, Terra 1955, p.265.

51 ‘the request of a distinguished’: Gallatin 1836, p.1.

52 ‘tendency to absolute’: Charles Lyell to Charles Lyell sen., 28 August 1823, Lyell 1881 vol.1, p.142.

53 AH on freedom of press and religion: AH told this to George Bancroft, 1820, Terra 1955, p.266; AH to Charles Lyell in 1823, recounted by Charles Lyell to Charles Lyell sen., 8 July 1823, Lyell 1881, vol.1, p.128.

54 ‘less disposed than ever’: AH to Auguste-Pyrame Decandolle, 1818, Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.38; for science in Paris, see Päßler 2009, p.30 and Terra 1955, p.251.

55 ‘pliant tools’: AH to Charles Lyell in 1823, recounted by Charles Lyell to Charles Lyell sen., 8 July 1823, Lyell 1881, vol.1, p.127.

56 ‘They are scattered thick’: Ibid.

57 AH’s appearance in 1822: Jean Baptiste Boussingault, 1822, Podach 1959, pp.208–9.

58 ‘you must already have’: King Friedrich Wilhelm III to AH, autumn 1826, Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.95.

59 ‘poor as a church’: AH to WH, 17 December 1822, AH WH Letters 1880, p.112; for AH finances, see Eichorn 1959, p.206.

60 ‘only thing in heaven’: Helen Maria Williams to Henry Crabb Robinson, 25 March 1818, Leask 2001, p.225.

61 AH gave up freedom: AH to Carl Friedrich Gauß, 16 February 1827, AH Gauß Letters 1977, p.30.

62 ‘the middle ground’: AH to Georg von Cotta, 28 March 1833, AH Cotta Letters 2009, p.178.

63 a ‘force of noblemen’: AH to Arago, 30 April 1827, AH Arago Letters 1907, p.23.

64 AH in London: 3 May 1827, RS Journal Book, vol.XLV, p.73ff. and 3 May 1827, List of Attendees, RS Dining Club, vol.21, no page numbers; AH to Arago, 30 April 1827, AH Arago Letters 1907, pp.22–4.

65 Mary Somerville (footnote): Patterson 1969, p.311; Patterson 1974, p.272.

66 AH and Canning: AH to Arago, 30 April 1827, AH Arago Letters 1907, p.28; Canning became Prime Minister on 10 April and the dinner was on 23 April 1827.

67 ‘my torments here’: AH to Achille Valenciennes, 4 May 1827, Théodoridès 1966, p.46.

68 Thames tunnel: Buchanan 2002, p.22ff.; Pudney 1974, p.16ff.; Brunel 1870, p.24ff.

69 ‘anxiety increasing daily’: Marc Brunel, Diary, 4 January, 21 March, 29 March 1827, Brunel 1870, pp.25–6.

70 ‘clayey silt above’: Marc Brunel, Diary, 29 March 1827, ibid., p.26.

71 AH at tunnel: AH to Arago, 30 April 1827, AH Arago Letters 1907, p.24ff.; Pudney 1974, pp.16–17; AH to William Buckland, 26 April 1827, American Philosophical Society (copy at Alexander-von-Humboldt-Forschungstelle, Berlin); Prince Pückler Muskau, 20 August 1827, Pückler Muskau 1833, p.177.

72 looked like ‘Eskimos’: AH to Arago, 30 April 1827, AH Arago Letters 1907, p.25.

73 ‘a privilege of Prussians’: Ibid.

74 tunnel fell in: Marc Brunel, Diary, 29 April and 18 May 1827, Brunel 1870, p.27; Buchanan 2002, p.25.

75 ‘You care for nothing’: Robert Darwin to Charles Darwin, Darwin 1958, p.28.

1 ‘tedious, restless life’: AH to Varnhagen, 13 December 1833, AH Varnhagen Letters 1860, p.15.

2 chamberlain honorary title: AH Friedrich Wilhelm IV Letters 2013, pp.18–19.

3 ‘court life robs’: AH, 1795, Bruhns 1873, vol.1, p.212; for AH at Prussian court, see Bruhns, vol.2, pp.104–5.

4 ‘swinging of a pendulum’: AH to Johann Georg von Cotta, 22 June 1833, AH Cotta Letters 2009, p.181.

5 ‘endless display of uniforms’: A.B. Granville, October 1827, Granville 1829, vol.1, p.332.

6 ‘above their humble’: Briggs 2000, p.195.

7 school of chemistry and mathematics, observatory: Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.126; AH to Samuel Heinrich Spiker, 12 April 1829, AH Spiker Letters 2007, p.63; AH to Friedrich Wilhelm III, 9 October 1828, Hamel
et al.
2003, pp.49–57.

8 ‘sycophantic courtier’: Lea Mendelssohn Bartholdy to Henriette von Pereira-Arnstein, 12 September 1827, AH Mendelssohn Letters 2011, p.20.

9 ‘during an idle moment’: Karl Gutzkow on AH, after 1828, Beck 1969, p.252.

10 ‘enviable talent for’: Carl Ritter to Samuel Thomas von Sömmerring, winter 1827–8, Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.107.

11 AH saw Canning: AH to Arago, 30 April 1827, AH Arago Letters 1907, p.28; see also F. Cathcart to Bagot, 24 April 1827, Canning 1909, vol.2, pp.392–4.

12 ‘We are on the brink’: George Canning, 3 June 1827, Memorandum by Mr Stapelton, Canning 1887, vol.2, p.321.

13 ‘the volcano which’: Klemens von Metternich, Davies 1997, p.762.

14 ‘a head that’s gone’: Biermann 2004, p.8

15 ‘mummy’s sarcophagus’: Ibid.

16 spirit of 1789: AH to Bonpland, 1843, AH Bonpland Letters 2004, p.110.

17 pan-American congress: Lynch 2006, pp.213–15; Arana 2013, pp.353–5.

18 ‘era of blunders’: Pedro Briceño Méndez to Bolívar, 26 July 1826, Arana 2013, p.374.

19 ‘illegal, unconstitutional and’: Joaquín Acosta, 24 March 1827, Acosta de Samper 1901, p.211.

20 ‘influence of slavery’: Rossiter Raymond, 14 May 1859; see also AH to Benjamin Silliman, 5 August 1851, AH to George Ticknor, 9 May 1858, AH Letters USA 2004, pp.291, 445, 572; and George Bancroft to Elizabeth Davis Bliss Bancroft, 31 December 1847, Beck 1959, p.235.

21 ‘estrangement from politics’: AH to Thomas Murphy, 20 December 1825, Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.49.

22 ‘With knowledge comes thought’: AH to Friedrich Ludwig Georg von Raumer, 1851, Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.125; similarly AH wrote in Cosmos that ‘knowledge is power’, AH Cosmos 1845–52, vol.1, p.37; AH Kosmos 1845–50, vol.1, p.36.

23 AH’s Cosmos lectures: AH to Johann Friedrich von Cotta, 1 March 1828, AH Cotta Letters 2009, pp.159–60; CH to Alexander von Rennenkampff, December 1827, Karl von Holtei to Goethe, 17 December 1827, Carl Friedrich Zelter to Goethe, 28 January 1828, AH Cosmos Lectures 2004, pp.21–3; see also p.12; Ludwig Börne 22 February 1828, Clark and Lubrich 2012, p.80; WH to August von Hedemann, 10 January 1828, WH CH Letters 1910–16, vol.7, p.326.

24 WH about Cosmos lectures: WH to August von Hedemann, 10 January 1828, WH CH Letters 1910–16, vol.7, p.325.

25 crowds and police: Ludwig Börne, 22 February 1828, Clark and Lubrich 2012, p.80

26 ‘jostle is frightful’: Fanny Mendelssohn Bartholdy to Karl Klingemann, 23 December 1827, AH Mendelssohn Letters 2011, p.20.

27 ‘listen to a clever word’: Ibid.

28 ‘The gentlemen might scoff’: Ibid.

29 ‘twice the width of’: Carl Friedrich Zelter to Goethe, 7 February 1828; Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy to Karl Klingemann, 5 February 1828, AH Mendelssohn Letters 2011, pp.20–21.

30 AH’s gentle voice: Roderick Murchison, May 1859, Beck 1959, p.3.

31 ‘entire great Naturgemälde’: CH to Rennenkampff, 28 January 1828, AH Cosmos Lectures 2004, p.23.

32 AH’s lecture notes: See for example, Stabi Berlin NL AH, gr. Kasten 12, Nr. 16 and gr. Kasten 13, Nr. 29.

33 his ‘new method’: Spenersche Zeitung, 8 December 1827, Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.116.

34 ‘The listener’: Vossische Zeitung, 7 December 1827, ibid., p.119

35 ‘I have never heard’: Christian Carl Josias Bunsen to Fanny Bunsen, ibid., p.120.

36 extraordinary clarity: Gabriele von Bülow to Heinrich von Bülow, 1 February 1828, AH Cosmos Lectures 2004, p.24.

37 ‘wonderful depth’: CH to Adelheid Hedemann, 7 December 1827, WH CH Letters 1910–16, vol.7, p.325.

38 a ‘new epoch’: Spenersche Zeitung, 8 December 1827, AH Cosmos Lectures 2004, p.16.

39 Cotta and lectures: AH to Heinrich Berghaus, 20 December 1827, AH Berghaus Letters 1863, vol.1, pp.117–18.

40 outings, excursions and meetings: Engelmann 1969, pp.16–18; AH, Opening Speech German Association of Naturalists and Physicians, 18 September 1828, Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.135.

41 ‘Without a diversity’: AH, Opening Speech German Association of Naturalists and Physicians, 18 September 1828, Bruhns 1873, vol.2, p.134.

42 an ‘eruption of nomadic’: AH to Arago, 29 June 1828, AH Arago Letters 1907, p.40.

43 pure ‘oxygen’: Carl Friedrich Gauß to Christian Ludwig Gerling, 18 December 1828; see also AH to Carl Friedrich Gauß, 14 August 1828, AH Gauß Letters 1977, pp.34, 40.

44 Goethe envious and requesting details: Goethe to Varnhagen, 8 November 1827, Goethe Correspondence 1968–76, vol.4, p.257; Carl Friedrich Zelter to Goethe, 7 February 1828, AH Mendelssohn Letters 2011, p.21; Karl von Holtei to Goethe, 17 December 1827, AH Cosmos Lectures 2004, p.21.

45 had ‘always accompanied’: Goethe to AH, 16 May 1821, Goethe Correspondence 1968–76, vol.3, p.505.

46 AH’s letters invigorating: Goethe to AH, 24 January 1824, Bratranek 1876, p.317; AH to Goethe, 6 February 1806, Goethe Correspondence 1968–76, vol.2, p.559; Goethe, 16 March 1807, 30 December 1809, 18 January 1810, 20 June 1816, Goethe Diary 1998–2007, vol.3, pt. 1, p.298; vol.4, pt.1, pp.100, 111; vol.5, pt.1, p.381; AH to Goethe, 16 April 1821, Goethe AH WH Letters 1876, p.315; Goethe, 16 March 1823, 3 May 1823, 20 August 1825, Goethe’s Day 1982–96, vol.7, pp.235, 250, 526.

47 everybody lived too far apart: Goethe to Johannn Peter Eckermann, 3 May 1827, Goethe Eckermann 1999, p.608.

48 ‘on my isolated path’: Ibid., p.609.

49 AH’s change from Neptunist to Vulcanist: Pieper 2006, pp.76–81; Hölder 1994, pp.63–73.

50 ‘a single volcanic furnace’: AH Aspects 1849, vol.2, p.222; AH Views 2014, p.247; AH Ansichten 1849, vol.2, p.263; see also AH, ‘Über den Bau und die Wirkungsart der Vulcane in den verschiedenen Erdstrichen’, 24 January 1823, and Pieper 2006, p.77ff.

51 examples graphic and terrifying: AH Aspects 1849, vol.2, pp.222–3; AH Views 2014, p.248; AH Ansichten 1849, vol.2, pp.263–4.

52 ‘a subterranean force’: AH Cosmos 1845–52, vol.1, p.285; AH Kosmos 1845–50, vol.1, p.311; see also AH Geography 2009, p.67; AH Geography 1807, p.9.

53 like ‘savages’: Goethe to Carl Friedrich Zelter, 7 November 1829, Goethe Correspondence 1968–76, vol.4, p.350.

54 It was ‘absurd’: Goethe, 6 March 1828, Goethe’s Day 1982–96, vol.8, p.38.

55 ‘rigid and proud’: Goethe to Carl Friedrich Zelter, 5 October 1831, Goethe Correspondence 1968–76, vol.4, p.454. 000 ‘cerebral system’: Ibid

56 ‘I appear to myself’: Goethe to WH, 1 December 1831, Goethe Correspondence 1968–76, vol.4, p.462.

57 ‘I know where my happiness’: AH to WH, 5 November 1829, AH Letters Russia 2009, p.207.

58 ‘work together scientifically’: AH, Aus Meinem Leben (1769–1850), in Biermann 1987, p.116.

59 ‘the mysterious and wonderful’: WH to Karl Gustav von Brinkmann, Geier 2010, p.282.

60 ‘language was the formative’: WH 1903–36, vol.7, pt.1, p.53; see also vol.4, p.27.

61 ‘image of an organic’: Ibid., vol.7, pt.1, p.45.

62 to India through Russia: AH to Alexander von Rennenkampff, 7 January 1812, AH Letters Russia 2009, p.62.

63 Cancrin’s request for information from AH: Cancrin to AH, 27 August 1827, ibid., p.67ff.; Beck 1983, p.21ff.

64 ‘most burning desire’: AH to Cancrin, 19 November 1827, AH Letters Russia 2009, p.76.

65 ‘the sweetest images’: AH to Cancrin, 19 November 1827, ibid.

66 AH confirms his vitality: AH to Cancrin, 10 January 1829, ibid., p.88.

67 Tsar invites AH to Russia: Cancrin to AH, 17 December 827, ibid., pp.78–9.

1 AH left Berlin: Beck 1983, p.35.

2 plants, landscape and animals in Siberia: AH to WH, 21 June 1829, AH Letters Russia 2009, p.138; Rose 1837–42, vol.1, p.386ff.

3 more or less ‘ordinary’: AH to WH, 21 June 1829, AH Letters Russia 2009, p.138.

4 ‘not as delightful’: Ibid.

5 ‘life in wild nature’: AH to Cancrin, 10 January 1829, ibid., p.86.

6 fast coaches: Beck 1983, p.76.

7 sleeping in carriage: AH to WH, 8 June and 21 June 1829, AH Letters Russia 2009, pp.132, 138

8 Count Polier: AH to WH, 8 June 1829, AH Letters Russia 2009, p.132; Beck 1983, p.55.

9 AH’s equipment: Cancrin to AH, 30 January 1829; AH to Ehrenberg, March 1829, AH Letters Russia 2009, pp.91, 100; Beck 1983, p.27.