LETTER FROM HUMBOLDT. 315 



it is all that I have been able to obtain, and 

 these few copies, with the king's name as sub- 

 scriber, will always be useful to you. 



I cannot close this letter without asking 

 your pardon for some expressions, too sharp, 

 perhaps, in my former letters, about your vast 

 geological conceptions. The very exaggera- 

 tion of my expressions must have shown you 

 how little weight I attached to my objections. 

 . . . My desire is always to listen and to 

 learn. Taught from my youth to believe that 

 the organization of past times was somewhat 

 tropical in character, and startled therefore at 

 these glacial interruptions, I cried " Heresy ! " 

 at first. But should we not always listen to 

 a friendly voice like yours ? I am interested 

 in whatever is printed on these topics ; so, if 

 you have published anything at all complete 

 lately on the ensemble of your geological 

 ideas, have the great kindness to send it to 

 me through a book-seller. . . . 



Shall I tell you anything of my own poor 

 and superannuated works? The sixth volume 

 is wanting to my " Geography of the Fifteenth 

 Century " (Examen Critique). It will appear 

 this summer. I am also printing the second 

 volume of a new work to be entitled " Central 

 Asia." It is not a second edition of " Asiatic 



