352 IIUMBOLDl^S LETTER, 



likely, not heard of either one or the other, 'Attention^ 

 Miladi !' 



"So he went on with his painting, and we fell into dis- 

 course, in English, on the cancan of May Fair, and into 

 fashionable frivolities, and Miss Berry's last mot — ' No 

 friendship can cross the north of Oxford Street' — when 

 a letter was delivered to me, on the outside of which was 

 written, ' Alexandre Yon Humboldt.' The dirty little 

 spot called the world disappeared into its own mists, and 

 the universe, of which Humboldt is at this moment the 

 high-priest, seemed to replace the pup|)et-show with 

 which we had been playing. 



" Spencer begged the cover, and read out the letter, that 

 my ^056 might not be disturbed ; and Berthon said, look- 

 ing at the picture through his hand, ' C'est un grand 

 homme, M. Humboldt ! J'ai ambition defaire son portrait^ 

 et de le mettre a I'exposition du Louvre avec le portrait 

 de Miladi.' 



"I promised to invite Spencer to the first "Wednesday 

 evening I expected Humboldt. This is Humboldt's 

 letter : 



" From M. Humholdt to Lady Morgan. 



" ' Thursday. 



" ' The pleasing remembrance of Sir Charles and Lady 

 Morgan adds to the deep regret I felt at not having efl:- 

 joyed their interesting conversation at Madame d'H.'s 

 My health is almost entirely re-estabhshed, and I shall 

 hasten to present myself at Lady Morgan's residence to 

 offer what is her due on so many claims, the homage of 

 my sentiments of admiration and devoted respect 



