162 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



have been acquainted with most of the leading men, some of 

 whom I have known intimately ; but though many were ex- 

 cellent and well-meaning, they did not hold an even course, and 

 soon after coming into power proved themselves no better than 

 their predecessors, sometimes even exceeding them in knavery, 

 No government, hitherto, has kept faith with the people, or 

 subordinated its selfish interests to the welfare of the nation. 

 So long as this is the case, there will be no stable government 

 in France. The nation has always been deceived, and will be 

 deceived again ; but at length she will avenge herself, and for 

 this she has no lack of power.' 



A deep insight into the national character of the French 

 is revealed in these prophetic words. Yet this gloomy view of 

 the future of that country did not prevent Humboldt from 

 frankly expressing his sympathy with the existing state of 

 affairs, even when in the presence of those who differed with 

 him in opinion ; the Revolution appeared to him as a just 

 retribution for the faults of the late government. 1 The tone 

 of the reactionary party now succeeding to office vibrated be- 

 tween anxious forebodings and a reckless confidence, inciting 

 them to dream of glorious wars, whereby to win fresh laurels for 

 France. By considerate warnings, Humboldt sought to guide 

 and check this clatter of arms ; taking advantage of the know- 

 ledge he possessed of the policy of the cabinet of St. Peters- 

 burg, he endeavoured to set Count Bernstorff on his guard 

 as to the deceitful machinations of Russia, who would have 

 rejoiced if Prussia, in the fear of losing the Rhine, had under- 

 taken single-handed a crusade against the Revolution in the 

 interests of the Holy Alliance. 2 The king and his leading 

 ministers wisely abstained from displaying any sympathy with 

 the warlike temper of the new court, the ultras, or the army ; 

 they were fully aware that on them devolved the task of 

 smoothing the way for the new regime ; the ' quasi-legitimist ' 

 seemed henceforth to be a necessary link for enabling the sub- 

 verted legitimists to enter into peaceful relationships with the- 

 new order of things. In this capacity Humboldt offered his- 

 services as the most suitable person to undertake the mission. 



1 Varnhagen, ' Blatter,' vol. v. p.. 303. 



2 Ibid. Tol. y. p. 306. 



