50 Humboldt's Letters. 



All my researches concerning the separate print of the 

 essay were in vain to-day. I have not even the single 

 volume of the Academical Proceedings of 1822, because 

 at that time I lived in Paris. Yet, in a few days, I will 

 bring you this one. I will then also show you a list of 

 all the remaining works of my brother, which I have 

 made with great care, and which you may perhaps in- 

 crease. Cotta will print all of them ; also, the eight 

 hundred sonnets, and likewise the hitherto unprinted 

 ecclesiastical poems from Spain. I make the prepara- 

 tions for this edition in a spirit of sincere piety that I 

 may not die regretting its non-completion. 



How could I ever suspect, dear friend, that you 

 would let me become a Madame Sontag, at the house of 

 the excellent Princess (as in the saloon of the Princess 

 Belgiojoso), and make an exhibition of myself! I will 

 read witli pleasure in a small circle of twelve or fifteen 

 persons, certainly not otherwise, because Berlin is a small 

 illiterate town and more than malicious, in which 

 people would find it ludicrous, if I, in addition to two 

 alas ! already so public theatres were to offer a third 

 entertainment. But happily, I certainly am no Madame 

 Sontag in Berlin, and the lecture can therefore well 

 remain a secret de comedie. You are certainly suffi- 

 ciently humane to understand all this, and not to blame 

 me. 



With all reverence, yours, A. v. H. 



