FROM ACCESSION OF FREDERICK WILLIAM IV. TO 1818. 299 



The reactionary movement succeeding to the Revolution 

 degenerated into a ' pecuniary reaction ' for all those who had 

 become compromised by participating in the political events of 

 that time. Jacobi and Massmann were brought under sus- 

 picion ; and Eisen stein, on the ground of political intrigue, was 

 deprived of the additional 200 thalers by which his pension 

 appears to have been increased at the Easter of 1848, and 

 was restricted in future to 300 thalers, 'notwithstanding 

 the humiliating visits and letters to which Humboldt had 

 condescended.' One of these letters, addressed- to Johannes 

 Schulze, we are able to insert; it is dated April 4, 1849, 

 and was written when the pension was for a time wholly 

 suspended. This characteristic epistle commences : 



' My esteemed friend, The voice of a venerable friend which 

 has been silent for many years is always a welcome sound. A 

 slight indisposition, and the depression I feel at the present 

 state of political affairs which occupy my attention incessantly, 

 but unfortunately with no result, prevent me from coming to- 

 day to see you; permit me therefore to recommend to your 

 notice in the warmest manner the case of my friend Eisenstein, 

 who is now in great poverty, notwithstanding his remarkable 

 talents, which render him of extreme value in the world of 

 science, and in attestation of this statement I unhesitatingly 

 appeal to Grauss, Dirichlet, and Cauchy. His pension has been 

 discontinued since the first of the month. I venture to im- 

 plore your help if only out of regard for me, who am one of 

 the oldest of those friends who can recall how much you have 

 accomplished for intellectual freedom in momentous times of 

 persecution. Is there a statesman now to compare with 

 William von Humboldt ? In these days of political ferment 

 how contracted and mean are the views of all around us, and 

 how readily do the evil disposed gain a hearing ! With the 

 highest esteem yours, < A yON HUMBOLDT; 



With all his efforts, Humboldt could not obtain more than 

 a grant of the smaller sum of 300 thalers for that year, from 

 the funds of the Departments of Public Instruction and 

 Finance. His applications had proved unavailing, not only 

 with the Academy, but with his friends Grauss and Dirichlet. 



