xiv Preface. 



Varnhagen, however, died first and transmitted the 

 duty a doubly sacred one to me, of publishing 

 this memorable evidence of the life, the activity, and 

 the genius of this great man. In the accomplishment 

 of this charge it was a religious duty to leave every 

 word unchanged as written down. I would have 

 thought it an offence to Humboldt's memory had I 

 had the arrogance to make the slightest alterations of 

 his words. For the same reason I did not think 

 myself authorized to grant the request however 

 well-meaning it may have been of the publisher, 

 that I should make such alterations, nor could I 

 accord the least influence to my own feelings or to 

 personal regards. There was but one consideration 

 to be obeyed the eternal truth, for an adherence to 

 which I am responsible to Humboldt's memory, to 

 History and Literature, and to the will of him who 

 enjoined this duty upon me. 



And therefore the legacy, intrusted to my hands, 

 will appear full and complete, as it was received. The 

 interest of Humboldt's letters is sometimes pleasantly 

 heightened by entries in Varnhagen's diary they will 



