176 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



its legitimate territory, and is certainly a stranger to all ideas 

 of aggression. Difference of opinion may exist upon certain 

 points of general politics, but you at least have discovered no 

 desire to interrupt the union of the great powers which has 

 hitherto helped to preserve in Europe the balance of power.' 

 Three months later, on February 11, 1841, 1 he commends in a 

 similar strain the exertions Gruizot had made for the mainte- 

 nance of peace, and a prudential line of conduct on the part 

 of Louis-Philippe. The plan for fortifying Paris did not meet 

 with his approval, as he feared the erection of forts would 

 inevitably arouse feelings of irritation in the populace which 

 it were unwise to excite. ' The fortifications of the capital,' 

 he adds, ' are a political necessity, one of those necessities 

 which are created both by nations and individuals, when they 

 demand too imperatively that which they need.' 



Humboldt's sincere love of peace did not prevent his being 

 a strong advocate for the maintenance of a state of national 

 defence, especially in the case of his own country. The same 

 spirit which induced him to urge upon Metternich the assump- 

 tion of a stronger position for Germany, led him also to make 

 use of even the most slender opportunities for increasing the 

 prestige of Prussia a,mid the scientific circles of Paris. To 

 these sentiments he gave expression in replying on December 

 23, 1831, to Encke, who had earnestly implored him not to 

 expose himself to the censure of the Prussian press by com- 

 municating to the Institute the scientific achievements of 

 Germans: 'In times of political agitation it is almost a duty 

 to show where intellectual life abounds in fullest energy. The 

 scientific standing universally accorded to Prussia by foreign 

 states tends to increase the prestige of her power, and atones 

 for much for which she might otherwise be reproached.' By 

 these motives Humboldt was actuated in the spring of 1832, 

 when endeavouring to secure the election of Cousin as a foreign 

 associate of the Berlin Academy, urging his claims on the 

 ground of his love of peace, his widespread influence and sym- 

 pathy with Prussia, which he had recently evinced by subjecting 



1 De la Roquette, vol. ii. p. 186 ; the year is erroneously given, which 

 happens very frequently in this collection. 



