32 Humboldt's Letters. 



is. 



HUMBOLDT TO VAENHAGEN. 



SATURDAY, March 9th, 1833. 



To a mind like yours, noble friend, solitude and calm 

 are necessary. You draw only upon yourself. Think, 

 that I received the painful news* only last night by Prince 

 Carolath. You know what a warm-hearted, long-proved, 

 and kind friend I lost in her, the honor of her sex ! how 

 amiable she was, when lately she instructed me to trans- 

 act the little business with Beuth. So experienced in 

 all the vicissitudes and illusions of life, and yet so cheer- 

 ful, and so gentle ! With such an intellect, so full of 

 soul, and so true of heart ! The world will appear to 

 you a solitude for a long time, but the consciousness of 

 having imparted to such a lovely woman, until her very 

 last breath, all that genius, and heart, and gracefulness of 

 intercourse like yours can afford, will be a balm to 

 your wound, dear Varnhagen. I conjure you, take care 

 of your health ! 



A. HUMBOLDT. 



* Of Rahel's death. 



