222 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLBT. 



North Germany ; but the true reason is that he is led, or 

 rather governed, by the managers at Augsburg, who are 

 bent on concentrating everything.' Humboldt's dissatis- 

 faction with his German publishers is evinced in this and 

 many similar expressions with regard to the Cottas, while of 

 Gride we are not aware that he ever made a complaint. He 

 subsequently received from Baron George Cotta expressions of 

 obsequious homage, almost exceeding the limits of good taste, 

 inspired, it would seem, by the great success of ' Cosmos.' It 

 is evident that Humboldt was not sparing on his part in the 

 use of nattering expressions, from the extravagant tone of the 

 following reply from his publisher to a letter of September 10, 

 1856: 'I blush with shame, my honoured Sir, at the ex- 

 pressions you have made use of, of which I feel wholly un- 

 worthy, as well as of your most kind recognition, which I 

 have ever keenly striven to merit, though without daring 

 to hope for success. While others cause to be placed upon 

 their shrine the decorations and marks of distinction they 

 have borne in life, it will be my desire that my children, 

 when this heart shall have ceased to beat, shall place thereon 

 your valued letters, for your approval has ever been my 

 greatest honour in life, and will constitute my greatest glory 

 hereafter.' That these expressions of gratitude were not con- 

 fined merely to words, appears from a letter of December 26, 

 1858, having reference to a gift of money probably to be 

 refunded out of a future payment to Humboldt conveyed to 

 Seifert, Humboldt's attendant, for whom the aged philosopher 

 in the latter years of his life often condescended to solicit aid 

 in a manner he would never have done for himself. * With 

 me,' writes Cotta, ' it suffices to know your wishes to at once 

 respond to them as far as lies in my power. I rejoice that 

 you have given me the opportunity of expressing to your Excel- 

 lency my heartiest good wishes for the new year, and allowed 

 me to accompany them with an enclosure which, though appa- 

 rently only a shabby piece of paper, will bring some amount of 

 pleasure to those who are in attendance upon your dear person, 

 and serve you with love and devotion. I should have the greatest 

 pleasure in making happy all those whom you would wish to 

 please. Pray receive the enclosed trifle, not because it gratifies 



