THE LAST TEN YEARS. 405 



intimate companionship with your Majesty and with your 

 noble-minded and generous Consort, the Queen, there is no 

 need to fear in taking so bold a step. 



' With every expression of grateful and respectful homage, 

 'I remain your Majesty's 



' Faithful and devoted Servant, 



6 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 

 ' Berlin : Sept. 25, 1853.' (During the visitation of the cholera.) 



It appears that it was not till after the stroke of apoplexy 

 by which Humboldt was attacked towards*the close of February 

 1857, that he made up his mind to despatch the foregoing 

 communication to the king. Frederick William replied by the 

 following order in council: 1 



' I am extremely gratified to learn that you have recovered 

 so speedily and so completely from your apparently serious 

 illness as to enable me to indulge the hope of again enjoying 

 the pleasure of your intellectual society, now become to me 

 almost indispensable ; but I am grieved to perceive from your 

 letter of the 18th inst., that your mind has been burdened 

 with anxiety lest the provision you have made in your will 

 for your faithful servant might be rendered unavailing through 

 the claims brought forward by creditors. As, in order to relieve 

 you from this anxiety, it suffices for me to give you the assu- 

 rance that when you are called I hope at a. very distant day 

 to quit this life, I shall view it as a part of your testament to 

 undertake the arrangement of your affairs, I am glad to avail 

 myself of this opportunity of giving you a fresh proof of my 

 sincere sympathy and attachment.. 



(Signed) '-FREDERICK: WILLIAM. 



< Berlin : March 21, 1857.' 



Of the contents of Humboldt's will, which was legally drawn 

 up on May 10, 1841, and supplemented by a codicil dated 

 September 20, 1853, stating that 'it would be quite unnecessary 

 that anything should be sealed after his death, as everything 

 in the house was left to his servant and his family/ we learn 



1 A summary of these documents appeared in Zimmermann's ' Humboldt- 

 buch,' vol. iii. p. 73, &c. j and more in detail in the ' Publicist,' 1859, No. 

 25, Supplement. 



