Teneriffe, and from its dizzy height marked the time that it took the disc of the sun to rise above the horizon, and who had traced the Orinoco river through savage wilds and burning heats to its source; and scaled the Andes and ascended the Chimborazo to the height of nearly 20,000 feet, and whose name had been intimately associated with the advancement of science for more than half a century. I felt that it would be a satisfaction to look upon such a man and mark his lineaments and hear him converse.

Accordingly when I arrived in Berlin I inquired if Baron Humboldt had a residence there and was informed that he had, and I sent my courier with my letter of introduction and address, inquiring when it would be convenient to receive a call from me; but my messenger returned with information that the Baron was at Potsdam, eighteen miles distant, and I concluded that I should not see him until I visited Potsdam, but to my surprise, just as I had finished my breakfast the next morning, Baron Humboldt was announced. My letter and address had been sent to him the evening before, and he had come down purposely to meet me, and he received me with a cordiality that put me entirely at my ease. He was then eighty-six years old, tall and stoutly built, with a strongly marked German countenance, his hair white and thin, slightly stooping in his shoulders, with his chin nearly resting upon his bosom as he stood, but of a most benign and venerable aspect and commanding dignity. Finally, the portrait which hangs there painted by Mr. Sellstedt, is a very good likeness.1

Although he spoke the English language, yet it was with some difficulty that I could understand him, as he spoke with an accent, and the loss of his teeth had evidently impaired his power of enunciation. After a short conversation, learning that I had just arrived in the city, he proposed at once to accompany me to see the chief objects of interest, and in spite of my protestations that I could not ask such a favor,

1. This portrait of von Humboldt, painted by Mr. L. G. Sellstedt, was presented to the Young Men's Association of Buffalo, and now hangs in the Buffalo Public Library.

he spent most of the day in showing me about the city and pointing out the chief curiosities. You may well conclude that for a man of his age he was very active, and he seemed to take as much interest in everything as though he was but fifty, and was looking at them for the first time. Some few days after I returned his call and found him occupying rooms assigned him by the King in one of his palaces at Potsdam, and he was engaged in reading the last proofs of his "Kosmos." I asked him if it had been translated into English as far as completed, and he said it had. I inquired if he had seen the translation, and he said he had, and that it was very good. Though sitting by a table, I observed that when he wrote he wrote upon his knee, and as I remarked the singularity, he said that he had been compelled so much of his life to use his knee for a writing-table that the habit had rendered it natural and easy. He spoke with interest of his travels through the United States in 1804, and of his visit to President Jefferson.

The room which he occupied was evidently his workshop. It was filled with books and maps, and such natural curiosities as he had collected during his long life; and many of them were very rare and curious. Indeed, it was a perfect museum for the man of science, and he kindly drew my attention to objects of the greatest interest.

I afterwards met him at a dinner party given by the King at the Palace of Sans Souci, where the chief diplomats and nobles were assembled, and I was struck with the deference that was paid him, not only by the King and Queen, but by all present. He was indeed an extraordinary man, and I never expect to look upon his like again.

AT THE SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL CONVENTION.

In 1869 Mr. Fillmore consented to act as president for the "Southern Commercial Convention." He presided at the annual session of this body, at Louisville, Ky., October

II, 1869; and at a reception held at the Court House made the following remarks:

MR. MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN OF LOUISVILLE: This reception is an honor and a pleasure which I had no reason to expect. Were I a candidate for some high patriotic office, or did I come with prestige of official power, I might account for this assembly here today. Nearly twenty years have elapsed since I have taken part in political matters. I belong to no party, but I do belong to my country; and I cannot express the gratification I feel today at seeing in prospect a deliberative body gathered from every State in the Union-the Union restored, that patriotic and glorious Union which has been endangered, but I trust not lost. Fifteen years ago I visited your city for the first and last time, and had I been placed in it today unawares I could not have recognized it. True, here is the grand old river flowing along its edge; here is the great natural obstruction of the falls, which has placed it with the great commercial cities of the country; but now when I see your splendid houses and your beautiful streets, all seem changed. It would seem as though magic had wrought it. How you could be so prosperous under all the vicissitudes of the past ten years is unaccountable; but I congratulate you on your good fortune and your prosperity.

Kentucky, if there be a State in the Union except the State which gave me birth, is the State of all others I have learned to honor.

I knew your illustrious citizen, who did honor to his State as he did to all the Union, and who now sleeps within your borders. I need not say that I allude to Henry Clay. He was my earliest and most devoted friend, and I was his; and I can never revert to his memory without reverence and respect.

I beg your pardon, gentlemen-I came here with no prepared address; the time is long passed since I have attempted such a thing. I came here simply to thank you for this unexpected reception and honor, and to express the hope

that you may be one and united forever. Pardon me, therefore, for not adding to this address and for contenting myself with simply thanking you for this honor.1

1. As president of this body, some time later, Mr. Fillmore issued the following call for the convention of 1870:

"In conformity with the resolve of the Southern Commercial Convention, at the meeting held in Louisville, Ky., October 12, 1869, the annual session of the convention will be held at Cincinnati, Ohio, commencing Tuesday, October 4, 1870. Commercial bodies, municipal and other corporations, and all other interests entitled to representation in the convention, are requested to appoint delegates in accordance with the basis of representation adopted at the session of the convention held at Memphis, Tenn., May 18, 1869.

CHAS. M. THURSTON, Sec'y.

MILLARD FILLMORE, President.

IN HONOR OF GENERAL BARRY

In October, 1867, some forty gentlemen of Buffalo, headed by Mr. Fillmore, addressed a letter to Major General William F. Barry, U. S. A., tendering to him a public dinner as an expression of their esteem. General Barry accepted the courtesy; at the dinner on the evening of October 25th, Mr. Fillmore presided, and on rising to propose the toast of the evening, spoke as follows:

GENTLEMEN: We have met to do honor to an esteemed friend and fellow-citizen who is about to leave us, and in announcing the first regular toast, you might expect from me a brief speech, but I have consented to occupy this chair with the express understanding that no speech should be required of me. Here are younger and more eloquent gentlemen who might feel disappointed, if not grieved, were they not permitted to speak, and I know that you will listen to their well arranged and delightfully flowing eloquence with more pleasure than to a rambling talk from me, and I shall not disappoint you or them by any extended remarks.

1. General Barry had had his headquarters in Buffalo, as commander of the Northern Frontier, since the Fenian disturbances of 1866. The community had formed a high regard for him, and there was general regret when he was ordered to resume command of his regiment, the Second Artillery, with headquarters at San Francisco. This was the occasion of the dinner, which was held at the Tifft House, attended by some eighty citizens. Besides the remarks by Mr. Fillmore, there were speeches by General Barry, Hon. Isaac A. Verplanck, Hon. S. S. Cox, and others. The letter addressed to General Barry by Mr. Fillmore and his associates will be found on a subsequent page of this volume. The letter which General Barry wrote in reply, and other original manuscripts and souvenirs of the occasion, are preserved by the Buffalo Historical Society.