168 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



oil exerts a baneful influence on the military. You will no- 

 doubt have read, my dear friend, the last monstrous proclama- 

 tion of Greneral Bugeaud. Algiers tends to infuse a spirit of 

 ferocity into the army, and demoralises the nation by the way 

 in which the governors have been allowed to deceive and 

 oppress the people. 



6 As there is reason to fear artifice in her new relatives, the 

 young princess will doubtless abstain from giving expression 

 to any sentiments of a purely political nature ; but I am con- 

 vinced that in heart she will soon become more liberal than 

 most of those by whom she is surrounded. It would not be 

 wise either to lead or anticipate her sentiments. I have been 

 assured by Bresson that she is well acquainted with the scene 

 on which she is about to enter, and that she follows intelli- 

 gently the course of events. Her tact never fails her, and 

 were she previously informed of the weaknesses of certain per- 

 sonages she could hardly avoid a certain constraint of manner, 

 whereby she would lose one of her greatest charms. Of the 

 queen, who is the personification of goodness, it is needless to 

 say anything. Her only daughter, who is gifted with con- 

 siderable talent for sculpture, possesses the charm of social 

 vivacity. The manners of the family are however very quiet, 

 almost bordering on formality, not from constraint but from 

 a love of moderation in both word and gesture. This accounts 

 for their mode of spending the evenings, when they all sit 

 round a table while a succession of visitors come and go. The 

 Princess Helena cannot fail to be surprised at first by this re- 

 markable passivity. I hope she does not believe any of the 

 stories that are current in Germany and among the lower classes 

 in France against Madame Adelaide, as to the severity of her 

 character, love of power, and the unscrupulous use of her influ- 

 ence. Madame Adelaide is one of the most cultivated women 

 of her rank, distinguished for elegance of mind and great 

 intelligence, and possessing a refined taste in literature and 

 the arts. Force of character does not always imply severity. 

 The king is devoted to her, and there is no one so completely 

 in his confidence. 



6 1 am glad to find that Frau von Lobau (nee Aremberg) is to 

 be the first lady in waiting. She is very amiable and gentle r 



