FROM KEVOLUTION OF JULY TO DEATH OF THE KING. 223 



my wish to please, but because it is offered with, heartfelt 

 pleasure to those who are privileged to be near your Ex- 

 cellency, towards all of whom, without exception, I cannot 

 but entertain a feeling of envy.' Humboldt was certainly 

 not free from blame in allowing this business correspondence 

 to degenerate into such an offensive extravagance of phraseo- 



In the autumn of 1834, Alexander von Humboldt commenced 

 the publication of the great work of his life. On October 24 

 of that year, he laid before Varnhagen the plan of the entire 

 work, requesting him to revise critically the first part of 

 the manuscript. 1 Among the various learned men upon whom 

 Humboldt, like a constitutional monarch, devolved the respon- 

 sibility of the compilation of ' Cosmos,' Varnhagen in his 

 criticisms for style represented, as it were, the Minister for 

 Foreign Affairs. While acknowledging with the utmost frank- 

 ness the 'leading faults of his style,' to which he was. by no 

 means insensible, the experienced man of the world, by flatter- 

 ing the vanity of his literary friend, obtained complete com- 

 mand of his weak side : ' Your talent for graceful writing is so 

 remarkable, you are so highly intellectual, and enjoy so in- 

 dependent a position, that you will not, doubtless, reject forms 

 of expression merely on account of their individuality, or 

 because they differ from your own.' Four days later, Humboldt 

 thanks his literary counsellor for ' the complete manner in 

 which he had entered into the spirit of his endeavours,' only 

 he had taken too much pains and bestowed too much praise. 

 ' Your remarks,' he continues, ' are characterised by so much 

 taste, delicacy, and acuteness, that the corrections have formed 

 an agreeable employment. I have adopted nearly all your 

 alterations, more than nineteen-twentieths ; the editor is always 

 allowed to have a little self-will ! ' This had reference to the 

 introductory remarks to the first volume, which had formed the 

 opening lecture at the Music Hall. It seems, however, that 

 the ' Prolegomena,' by which term Humboldt designated all that 

 was subsequently contained in the first two volumes, were 

 for 'the most part complete.' This appeared to him as 'the 



1 ' Briefe an Varuhagen," Xos. 16, 17. 



