

THE LAST TEN YEARS. 347 



writing to Bunsen : ' Old Prussia was entombed on March 19, 

 1848, and New Prussia has found a grave on November 3, 1850.' 1 

 We shall not be far wrong if, in the disastrous turn of public 

 affairs, we ascribe to Humboldt the same sentiments to which 

 his august correspondent had thus given expression. It will not 

 seem inappropriate at this juncture to say a few words respect- 

 ing the relationship in which Humboldt stood to this noble- 

 hearted woman, and true patriot. 



It was through reminiscences of Weimar that Humboldt was 

 first brought into a position of intimacy with the Princess of 

 Prussia ; to the granddaughter of Karl August he readily trans- 

 mitted a large share of the regard he had felt for that distin- 

 guished prince. It happened upon one occasion, when writing 

 to the princess upon the death of the Chancellor Miiller, that 

 Humboldt reverted with some warmth to the recollections of 

 earlier days, and in concluding a eulogy of the chancellor, 

 gracefully added : ' One point on which he won my regard 

 was that, while having early recognised in you, madam, the 

 development of a grand and noble intellect, and being able to 

 enter into that which others failed to comprehend, he ever felt 

 for you a sincere admiration and devoted friendship. This 

 was of the kind I most admire, being grounded on instinct 

 and reason.' Admitting that these expressions may have 

 been heightened by flattery, they yet convey the forcible im- 

 pression that the interest aroused in Humboldt by the 

 princess was due principally to ' her thoughtful mind and high 

 culture,' while his sympathy was excited by ' the moral suffer- 

 ings ' to which she was subjected from being surrounded by 

 those wholly incapable of appreciating her liberal sentiments.' 2 

 Of her, Humboldt wrote to Bunsen in 1846 : ' Her superior 

 intellect leads her to be greatly harassed and distressed.' The 

 statement occurring in Varnhagen's journal for March 2, 1 848, 

 that even at that time Humboldt was, with the Duchess von 

 Sagan, included by the princess among the ' four individuals 

 who really understood her,' is highly probable. 3 He subse- 

 quently was permitted to occupy a position of great intimacy 



1 l Chr. C. J. Frlir. von Bunsen/ vol. iii. p. 165. 



2 'Briefe an Bunsen,' pp. 82, 83, 93. 



3 Varnhagen's ' Tagebiicher/ vol. iv. p. 257. 



