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4 A Transatlantic Network of Knowledge and Ideas Personal Encounter in Washington Humboldt’s hopes and expectations for his meeting with Jefferson were obvious in his letter of introduction of May 24, 1804. It is a masterpiece of diplomacy, containing every fascinating piece of information Humboldt could think of that might fire Jefferson’s enthusiasm as a scientist and politician. Like all his letters to Jefferson , it was written in French, and as always, Jefferson answered in English. Though in fact he came directly from Cuba, Humboldt wrote in his very first sentence that he had arrived from Mexico, a place he knew to be of great interest to Jefferson. He wished, he said, to personally deliver a parcel to the Virginian from his friend, the U.S. consul in Havana. He further let it be known that he had admired Jefferson and his writings from his own early youth. Despite a “burning desire” to see Paris again, where he expected to publish the fruits of his expedition, he could not resist his “moral interest” in seeing the United States and encountering “a people that understands the precious gift of Liberty.”¹ In a note to Zaccheus Collins, Humboldt expresses the same “moral interest” in becoming acquainted with the United States, a country “that wisely governed.”² In his letter of introduction to James Madison, he points out his interest in seeing the prosperity of humankind in the United States as a result of its wise legislation . After having seen the majesty of nature in South America, he writes, it is a consoling idea that he will be able to witness the moral spectacle of a free people worthy of this beautiful destiny.³ He goes on to emphasize his scientific interest—to be useful to Rebok, final pages.indd 46 Rebok, final pages.indd 46 2/27/14 10:56 AM 2/27/14 10:56 AM a transatlantic network 47 the physical sciences and the study of mankind in its different states of barbarism and culture⁴—and gives a detailed description of his American expedition, which, he notes—highlighting his independence from any European government—has been undertaken at his own expense.⁵ Humboldt refers to his works on galvanism⁶ and his publications in the Mémoires de l’Institut National de Paris in order to present himself as a prominent scientist with links to the scientific community in Paris.Aware of Jefferson’s tenure in Paris fifteen years earlier and knowing that the American president has maintained his scholarly connections there, Humboldt mentions his Parisian contacts , among them Jean-Antoine Chaptal, Louis Nicolas Vauquelin, and, in particular, Georges Cuvier. He also demonstrates his knowledge of Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, which he probably had read during his studies in Hamburg at the Commercial Academy with Christoph Daniel Ebeling. One of the most distinguished German experts on the geography and history of America, Ebeling owned numerous works on the United States of which Humboldt made use.⁷ A letter from Ebeling to Jefferson offers evidence that the former owned a copy of the 1787 London edition of the Notes.⁸ Since Jefferson’s book makes clear that he knew little of the Indian population of Spanish America, Humboldt, hoping to pique the older man’s interest, alludes to that topic as well. In this context, he also mentions his own finding of mammoth teeth in South America at 1,700 toises above sea level, a topic of great interest to Jefferson and one that makes indirect reference to the much-debated degeneracy theory regarding the New Continent.⁹ He also discusses details regarding the defense of the United States, a subject Jefferson discusses in Notes on the State of Virginia. In this letter to Jefferson and others, Humboldt attempts to establish a connection between their scientific endeavors by referring to Jefferson as a magistrate-philosopher and scientist rather than as the president of the United States.¹⁰ Also noteworthy is that Humboldt signs the letter to Jefferson with the title “Le Baron de Humboldt” and as a member of the Academy of Sciences in Berlin. Legally, however, Humboldt was not a baron, and at that moment he was an extraordinary member of the Academy of Sciences; he received full membership only after his return to Europe in 1805.¹¹ Thanks to this carefully crafted letter that touched upon nearly every Jeffersonian interest and...

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