Passages from the Life of a Philosopher

My First Visit to Paris -- Anecdote of the fifty-two Eggs -- Mistake about Woodhouse -- Fourier -- Biot -- Drawings of the Difference Engine -- Strong characteristic of Humboldt's mind -- English Clergyman at Paris -- Great Meeting of Philosophers at Berlin, 1828 -- Introduces the Author to Magnus and Derichlet -- Puts the Englishman upon the Dining Committee -- Conversation in the Linden Walk -- Humboldt's study -- Various members of the family of Bonaparte -- Lucien and his Children -- Louis, the King of Holland -- Joseph, the King of Spain -- His second Daughter married to a Son of Louis -- Their taste -- Drawings and Lithographs -- Her Death.

My first visit to Paris was made in company with my friend John Herschel. On reaching Abbeville, we wanted breakfast, and I undertook to order it. Each of us usually required a couple of eggs. I preferred having mine moderately boiled, but my friend required his to be boiled quite hard. Having explained this matter to the waiter, I concluded by instructing him that each of us required two eggs thus cooked, concluding my order with the words, "pour chacun deux."