FKOM ACCESSION OF FKEDERICK WILLIAM IV. TO 1848. 245 



a noble disposition, and intellectually is the most highly gifted 

 man with whom I hold any intercourse. His friends have done 

 him much injury with the public* In the "Staatszeitung" of 

 to-day there is an article denying officially the -report that has 

 gone about concerning the edict upon religion and the enforced 

 observation of Sunday, with which you will be much pleased. 

 ... I am quite distracted 'between my attendance on the king 

 and the German propensity for scribbling. I am pestered with 

 advice, remonstrances, and inquiries, to say nothing of solicita- 

 tions for professorships, medals, and decorations I often receive 

 in a week from fifty to sixty letters and packets. The king has 

 daily between 160 and 180 brought before his consideration. 

 When we went to Konigsberg, we carried away with us 5,000 

 unopened communications the consequence of a change of 

 sovereign and of this inconvenient system of centralisation. 

 . . . Amid the various (apparent) distractions of my position 

 I can only prosecute my literary pursuits at night, which I 

 am fortunately able to do from the small amount of sleep I 

 require a peculiarity which, as you may remember, is a pre- 

 scriptive right of tlie Humboldt family. I retire to rest -at 

 half-past two, and get up at seven, and in summer at six.' 



His complaints henceforth become more frequent upon the 

 distractions of his position and the concentration of his powers 

 upon an unattainable object.' l In confidential conversation 

 with Varnhagen, 2 he admitted, as early as April 1841, that the 

 king, though actuated by excellent intentions and much 

 nobility of feeling, was -yet no man of action, and that what he 

 did effect was done impulsively, without consistency and dis- 

 cretion. Whether from amiability or timidity, he often shrank 

 from doing that which 'he most ardently desired and could 

 most easily accomplish^ Again, on December 3 of the same 

 year, he concludes a letter to hie- friend with the sad exclama- 

 tion : ' The evening of my life is most sad and oppressive.' 3 

 Had he at this time, as Varnhagen maintains;,, any serious 

 thought of retiring from court life, inasmuch as his name alone 

 possessed any value with the king, and the influence of others 

 carried greater weight, it could only have been in a momentary 



1 ' Briefe an Varnhagen,' No 52. 



* Ibid. p. 88. 3 Ibid. p. 102. 



