THE LAST TEN YEARS. 349 



was followed by Humboldt with sympathetic interest, were thus 

 spent in confidential intercourse with that branch of the royal 

 house upon whom rested the future hopes of the country. In 

 writing to Bunsen on November 2, 1849, he remarks : l 6 The 

 events that have recently transpired have produced a beneficial 

 effect upon the Prince of Prussia. He maintains a gentle 

 though dignified opposition to the reactionary movement.' In 

 1854 he describes both the prince and princess as 'charac- 

 terised by great nobility of sentiment, and preserving a firm 

 demeanour.' 2 Subsequently c the increasing alienation ' between 

 the reactionary court of Berlin and the ' noble Prince of 

 Prussia ' caused him deep grief and concern. With the prin- 

 cess he had corresponded since 1849. In these letters Humboldt 

 expresses himself with great freedom upon the course of political 

 events, and subscribes himself in such terms as ' secular court- 

 chaplain, le physicien de la cour, the most faithful of antedi- 

 luvian men, le tres-illisible, tres-incorrect, tres-humble, tres- 

 obeissant, tres-fidele serviteur.' With the exception of some 

 birthday congratulations and a few 6 official bulletins' for the 

 information of the princess when absent from Berlin, these 

 letters are some of the most interesting among Humboldt's 

 correspondence, and give an exalted idea of the intellectual 

 nature of this friendship. The misfortunes of the exiled royal 

 house of France, more especially of the Duchess of Orleans, 

 formed, as we have before observed, the principal theme of this 

 correspondence, in which, while animadverting on the detested 

 usurper, the probability of a recall to the throne was often 

 referred to ; and the complications of German and Prussian 

 affairs were discussed with no less freedom. To one so near 

 the throne it would have been unbecoming in Humboldt to 

 refer to the sorrowful contrast presented by the years 1789 

 and 1848; he boldly asserts, however, on one occasion, when 

 writing on September 18, 1852, that a man of his sentiments 

 was fit only to live in England from which, however, he was 

 strongly repelled by its ' chilling social habits.' 



A peculiar charm is spread over these letters from the affec- 

 tionate sympathy expressed by Humboldt in the children of 



1 'Briefe an Bunsen,' p. 117. 



2 Ibid. p. 181. 



