Humboldt spoke French, and as well as his mother-tongue.
One of the chief events of Chopin's visit to Berlin was, according to his own account, his second dinner with the natural philosophers, which took place the day before the close of the congress, and was very lively and entertaining:-- Many appropriate songs were sung in which every one joined with more or less energy.

Zelter conducted; he had standing before him on a red pedestal as a sign of his exalted musical dignity a large gilt goblet, which seemed to give him much pleasure.

On this day the food was much better than usual.

People say the natural philosophers had at their meetings been specially occupied with the amelioration of roasts, sauces, soups, and the like.
"The Berliners are such an impertinent race," says Goethe, "that to keep one's self above water one must have Haare auf den Zahnen, and at times be rude." Such a judgment prepares one for much, but not for what Chopin dares to say:-- Marylski [one of his Warsaw friends] has not the faintest shadow of taste if he asserts that the ladies of Berlin dress prettily.

They deck themselves out, it is true; but it is a pity for the fine stuffs which are cut up for such puppets! What blasphemy! After a fortnight's stay in the Prussian capital Professor Jarocki and Chopin turned homeward on September 28, 1828.