FROM ACCESSION OF FREDERICK WILLIAM IV. TO 1848. 257 



ceased not to weary him with details concerning personal feuds 

 and matters of private interest. There are small minds, who, 

 unmindful of the requirements of the age, retrograde like the 

 epicycles of Ptolemy, and endeavour to dispirit every attempt at 

 improvement. ' It has come at last to this,' he sorrowfully 

 exclaims, ' that from Memel to Saarbriick the impression pre- 

 vails that there is .less enlightenment in the Government than 

 among the people.' l He feared that c the clergy would end 

 by forcing the king to stifle his naturally vivacious tempera- 

 ment.' 2 



After the spring of 1844, Humboldt began to see more 

 clearly that the seat of the mischief lay really in this vivacious 

 temperament, meddling with dangerous topics, and henceforth 

 he terms it with greater severity ' childish frolic.' 3 Upon such 

 a nature it was in vain to attempt to exercise the influence he 

 was ever expected to exert ; even favourites like Bunsen and 

 Radowitz could do no more than cherish and submissively carry 

 out the foolisji fancies of the king; beyond this they were power- 

 less to accomplish anything. c The king will do exactly as he 

 likes, and will only carry out his preconceived notions ; the 

 advice, to which, however, he always willingly listens, has 

 never the smallest weight with him.' Humboldt expressed 

 himself derisively upon the vast schemes of his sovereign, which 

 were planned as if he expected to live a hundred years ; and 

 as a true conception gradually gained upon him of the dilet- 

 tante spirit of Frederick William, he was constrained to 

 remark : 'Art and imagination upon the throne, fanatic jug- 

 glery everywhere around, and hypocritical deception in every 

 act ! And yet withal a king highly intellectual, exceedingly 

 amiable, and inspired with the best intentions! What will 

 come of all this ? ' These expressions, for the validity of which 

 we have the testimony of Varnhagen, have found full justifica- 

 tion in the records of history ; the character of the king is 

 sketched with no less power, though in softer colours, in the 

 beautiful letter to Carus of February 5, 1844, wherein Hum- 

 boldt playfully reproaches the enthusiastic phrenologist for 



1 < Briefe an Bunsen/ No. 39. 

 3 ' Briefe an Varnhagen,' p. 132. 

 Ibid. p. 124. 

 VOL. II. S 



