42 ALEXANDEK VON HUMBOLDT. 



delicacy of perception, and the soundness of judgment, by which 

 all your writings are characterised. I should like to discuss these 

 views with you, for I feel more than ever the necessity of 

 exciting an appreciation for all that is truly loveable. I hope 

 you will not deem me presumptuous if I crave permission to 

 send this first part of your book to M. Ancillon. I am wholly 

 without pecuniary means, and though pleased with your work 

 from the ideal manner in which you have developed the princi- 

 ples of education, I still feel I ought to see you, and talk with 

 you over your project. . . . We must arrange some day to go 

 together to Saint-Germain. . . . With the assurance of my 

 profound esteem and affection, I remain, &c., 



' HUMBOLDT.' 



This first part of Guizot's work upon education was followed 

 in a few days by a second pamphlet, in acknowledgment of 

 which Humboldt thus expressed his thanks : l 



'' Paris: Thursday, May 17, 1811. 



' It is very kind of you to bear me in remembrance. I have 

 already read through your second pamphlet, in which you 

 have developed more perfectly your admirable and useful pro- 

 ject. Your remarks upon differences in temperament are very 

 judicious, and evince great delicacy of perception. Children are 

 difficult to paint, on account of their forms being so undeter- 

 mined. In a country where metaphysics are as much shunned 

 as the yellow fever or liberal sentiments, the tone of thought 

 must often be lowered to suit the reader, and maxims have to 

 be expressed with greater definiteness of form. I was glad to see 

 that you have resuscitated Campe's method. You may perhaps 

 not be aware that Campe was tutor to my elder brother. I 

 was at that time little more than an infant, but I have been 

 told since that he was the first upon whom Campe tried his 

 system. I have no doubt that the Journal of Mademoiselle de 

 M. will be well received,' &c. 



The last few words are associated with an important event 

 in Guizot's life. Amid the brilliant society assembled at the 

 house of Stapfer, the Swiss Ambassador at Paris, where he 



1 De la Roquette, vol. ii. p. 47. 



