Humboldt's Letters. 57 



and establishes new customs, new faith, new wants of 

 life even in the most unorganised parts of the earth. 

 The South Sea Islands are already Protestant parishes ; 

 a floating battery, a single vessel of war, changes the 

 fate of Chili 



Princess Helene, by her charming grace and intel- 

 lectual superiority, also yesterday made many conquests 

 over the raw and obstinate material which had opposed 

 her. It was ludicrous to see how some persons tried to 

 appear serious, dignified, and silly. That she leaves 

 in good spirits for her new country, I am much rejoiced. 

 AVould that she passed the Rhine with less retinue ! 

 Her mother is good and refined, but of retired habits ; 

 but some other members of her suite had better remain 

 on this side of the river. Fortunately, people in the great 

 French world are entirely free from* the paltry gossip 

 and fault-finding that rule in Berlin and Potsdam, where 

 they subsist for months, in thoughtlessness, upon the 

 self-created phantasy of a weak imagination. 



I made Privy Councillor Mueller, who knows how to 

 estimate you and your genius, participate in my joy. 

 But he also, as a jurist, strayed away to the first sheet, 

 No. 63 (Criticisms on the Provincial Law, by Goetze). 

 Will you not, dear friend, send me, for Mueller, the 

 commencement of that criticism ? 



Most gratefully yours, A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



3* 



