FROM ACCESSION OF FEEDEEICK WILLIAM IV. TO 1848. 275 



From Humboldt's correspondence with Bunsen we learn that 

 he was interested in another important undertaking, reflecting 

 glory upon Prussia, and the scientific enterprise of Germany, 1 

 namely, Lepsius' expedition to Egypt. In order 6 that a more 

 liberal outfit might be secured for the expedition, that his own 

 exertions should appear disinterested, and that his opinion 

 might command more weight,' he persuaded Bunsen, instead of 

 dedicating his works on Egypt, as he had intended, to himself, 

 to dedicate them to the king. His marked predilection for 

 ancient history led him to take the liveliest interest in the 

 results of the explorations, and to view the treasures brought 

 over by the travellers as ' worth five times the cost of the whole 

 expedition.' Although anticipating the order of events, we 

 may here mention that Humboldt was mainly instrumental in 

 arranging the expedition of Brugsch to Egypt, whereby import- 

 ant scientific results were obtained. To Brugsch he proved a 

 benefactor in the truest sense of the word, for, recognising his 

 remarkable talents, he furnished him with the means for the 

 publication of his ' Scriptura demotica,' and was highly grati- 

 fied by the encomiums the work gained for his young friend 

 in France. ' I am not one of those,' he writes to Bockh, ' who 

 imagine that commendation and encouragement bestowed at 

 the commencement of a career necessarily work mischief. I 

 think the effect is far more likely to be to infuse a feeling of 

 self-respect and a sense of obligation to continue worthy of 

 esteem.' At Humboldt's request, the king furnished Brugsch 

 with means for the journey; no wonder, therefore, that in 

 gratitude to his benefactor, he wrote from Karnac on November 

 17, 1853, that he had 'kissed his long and welcome letter a 

 thousand times, reading it and re-reading it like a morning 

 and evening prayer.' Humboldt defended his young friend with 

 great earnestness from the attacks of Lepsius, whose behaviour 

 to his weaker opponent had appeared to Humboldt 'quite 

 unworthy ' of the distinguished scholar. 2 



Another important undertaking to be ascribed to Humboldt 

 was the establishment of the Meteorological Office in 1848, 



1 < Briefe an Bunsen,' pp. 34, 36, 45, 56, 57, 62, 69, 86. 



2 To Bockh. See also ' Eriefe an Bunsen/ pp. 108, 163, 108, 1C9. 



T 2 





