THE LAST TEN YEARS. 353 



great character and self-command.' 1 Subsequently, when 

 the regency was definitely arranged, he writes in great glee to 

 the same friend on February 16, 1859 : 6 Come and spend a few 

 weeks with us at our new Berlin, where you may now breathe 

 freely.' The atmosphere of the new regime is apparent in 

 these lines; it was Humboldt's fate only to experience this 

 refreshing influence as a quickening draught during life's latest 

 hours. 



Ere we can fully realise the sad feelings by which Humboldt's 

 mind was frequently overcast during the years succeeding the 

 Revolution of 1848, before the regency shed a glorious light 

 over the political horizon of Prussia, we must for a few 

 moments reluctantly withhold our gaze from the grand destiny 

 to which she has since been called. It has been exceedingly 

 disastrous to the memory of Humboldt, that an undue pro- 

 minence has been given to the expressions of dissatisfaction he 

 made use of during these sad years ; at the present day, when 

 history has confirmed the truth of most of these expressions, 

 when the ManteufTel rule is no longer thought of but as a 

 frightful political dream, with a feeling half of shame that it 

 ever existed, half of joy that it exists no longer, when even 

 many acts of Frederick William IV. subsequent to 1848 now 

 find their explanation in the disease which must have been 

 coming on, long ere it was suspected, it ought rather to be a 

 subject of admiration that the venerable philosopher should have 

 had sufficient elasticity, often as he had been bitterly disap- 

 pointed, and while yet in the ' perplexity of a dreary existence 

 and in a period of such moral degradation,' still to place hope 

 in the future. He used to repeat to himself c the doctrine of 

 History in all ages, that the march of Nemesis never falters, and 

 that Truth and Justice must eventually triumph.' 2 It is true 

 that he adds sadly, with Benjamin Constant : ' I am quite aware 

 that principles are imperishable, but unfortunately I am not a 

 principle.' His subsequent remark that 'centuries are but 

 seconds in the development of the human race ' evinces a nobler 

 tone of thought, and the limitation he subjoins is as true as it is 



1 See i Brie/e an Varnhagen,' Xo. 224. 



2 ' Briefe an Bunsen/ p. 147. 

 YOL. II. A A 



