"To the Senator Colonel Fremont.--It affords me great pleasure to forward you these lines through my excellent friend M. de Gerolt.

Having, in my new edition of the 'Views of Nature,' publicly acknowledged my admiration for the gigantic works so meritoriously completed by you between St.

Louis and the South Sea, I feel happy in being able once more to give you the assurance of my warm recognition.

In your distant expeditions you displayed a noble fortitude, braved every danger of cold and hunger, enriched every branch of natural science, and opened for us a great region that was previously almost unknown to us.

"Such rare merit has been recognised by a sovereign who takes such a lively interest in the progress of physical geography.

The King commissions me to present you with the great gold medal that is intended for those who have signally contributed to the advancoment of science.

I hope this sign of recognition will be doubly welcome to you at a time that the Geographical Society of Berlin, upon the motion of the celebrated geographer Charles Ritter, has further named you an honourable member.

In so far as concerns myself, I must also especially thank you for the honour you confer upon me by having bestowed the names of myself, as well as of my fellow-explorer and friend Bonland, on regions that border on those which formed the object of our scientific labours.

California, that has so magnanimously withstood the introduction of slavery, will be worthily represented by a friend to freedom and to the progress of science.

"Accept the assurance, &c., A. v. Humboldt.

"Sans-Souci, Oct. 7, 1850."