Humboldt's Letters. 53 



stones, has put himself to the trouble of learning to 

 write German. 



Yours, 



A.HT. 



I hope also to procure for you the vehement " opus" 

 of the Strelitz Minister, which is by far more spirited 

 than might be expected. 



Varnhagen remarks in his Diary, under May 3d : In 

 the evening, at the Princess of Pueckler's, the long- 

 promised lecture by Herr von Humboldt. The lecture 

 was very fine, and made an excellent impression. I had 

 a conversation with General von Ruhle on Humboldt's 

 genius. He totally agreed with me, saying, " When 

 he shall have died, then only shall we understand well 

 what we have possessed in him." 



Herr von Humboldt was with me yesterday, and 

 brought me the. little note of Minister Kamptz, of which 

 twenty-five copies only were printed, " Casus in termi- 

 nus," in which he puts the best face on the French change 

 of rulers, and in which he justifies the Mecklenburg mar- 

 iage. So much in contrast with his old principles, 

 that I could exclaim : " If he could only cut him- 

 self in two, he certainly would put one half in prison.'' 

 There is still no opposition wanting against the mar- 

 riage. Duke Charles of Meckleuburg-Strelitz has for- 



