COLLEGE LIFE. 47 



on this subject under date uf February 14, 1789 : 'The news 

 you give me of mon frere delights me. He is indeed a noble 

 fellow, and will some day prove himself a useful man. Mis- 

 chievous as lie appears to be at times, he is really most excellent 

 at heart. His chief failing is vanity, and a Idve of approbation,, 

 the cause of which lies in the fact that his nature has never 

 been stirred by any deep or overwhelming interest.' 



These traits of Alexander as thus sketched by William von 

 Humboldt are clearly evinced in his own letters written about 

 this time to his friends at Berlin, among whom must be reckoned 

 David Friedlander, who has already been referred to in p. 23, 

 and Beer, a medical student, who was an inmate in the household 

 of Counsellor Herz, and who, in addition to his studies for the 

 medical profession, devoted a good deal of time to philosophical 

 subjects: eventually he practised as a physician at Grlogau, where 

 he died. After a fortnight's separation, Humboldt writes to 

 Beer : c I should have rejoiced to have heard from you sooner, 

 and I would gladly have earlier fulfilled my promise .of writing 

 to you, if I had not been prevented by a thousand little hin- 

 drances. Now that we ' are somewhat settled, my dear friend, 



nothing can prevent my enjoying once more the pleasure of i 



holding converse with you. Yet a letter is but a poor substitute 

 for the enjoyment of personal intercourse, and the remembrance 

 of an absent friend is always associated with a certain pang. 

 But even in this pain of longing there lies concealed so sweet 

 a feeling, that, without being sentimental, one is constrained to 

 cherish it. Do not expect more from me to-day than these few 

 lines. I dread every moment to hear the clock strike three, 

 when we have to attend a lecture on jurisprudence ; so that I 

 have only time to tell you that we are well, and, quantum fieri 

 potest, leading a happy life. I shall write more another day* 

 Remember me to the dear counsellor and his excellent wife, 

 also to Veit, Levi, Herr Friedlander, and any others you may 

 meet with who still bear me in remembrance.' 



The following letter, written in November 1787, is of greater 

 interest : 



' A thousand, thousand thanks, my dear friend, for the kind 

 letter with which you lately gladdened me. I feel indeed half 

 inclined to quarrel with you for believing so little in my 



