Humboldt's Letters. 35 



15. 

 HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEff. 



BERLIN, December 19, 1833. 



I HAVE been prevented by the irksome and noisy 

 Court-life from inquiring personally after the dear health 

 of my friend. I am sorry that I must request you, by 

 the present note, to return me the letter of the Duchess 

 of Dessau, containing the amiable words concerning our 

 sainted friend. 



Tuesday. A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



le. 



BERLIN, Oct. 24, 1834. 



I BEGIN the printing of my work (the work of my 

 life). I have the extravagant idea of describing in one 

 and the same work the whole material world all that 

 we know to-day of celestial bodies and of life upon the 

 earth from the nebular stars to the mosses on the 



