Humboldt's Letters. 87 



you and to your description of the Congress, and 

 praised it for the noble simplicity in which one of the 

 most remarkable events is recited. " Et tout cela 

 prouve que ma fille est muette," and that a talent like 

 yours (in advising, in describing, and in knowledge of 

 mankind) is allowed to be idle, so that after your death, 

 as after my brother's, people will express their astonish- 

 ment at your not having been employed in time. 



A. HT. 



I am quite " turned Quaker." Mrs. Fry and William 

 Allan little sermons in the penitentiaries (the most 

 horrible ones which the Quakeress has ever seen), and 

 little tracts against brandy-drinking ! 



47. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEff. 



FRIDAY, March 29tfi, 1840. 



DECIDE, master of eloquence and euphony : I had it 

 thus, "As far as humanity (civilisation) extended on 

 earth !" 



Now, it pleases me better to put: 1, "It has influ- 

 enced rulers and nations equally, as far as civilization and 

 commerce extend" (extend, not extended, which latter 



