114 Humboldt's Letters. 



came to the word ' success,' the King interrupted him 

 with the words, ' Ah me ! there is not much of that ; on 

 that point we had best be silent.' And really Humboldt 

 thinks the public feeling here dreadfully changed for the 

 worse. The King has enemies, and in the highest 

 circles ! Minister Eichhora is generally hated, and 

 makes but a poor figure at court. There seems scarcely 

 a doubt that Bunsen will be Ambassador to England. 

 Count Stolberg is almost the only one who speaks 

 openly against Bunsen. Humboldt sneers at Bunsen's 

 little tract, c The Week of Meditation.' 



The 3d of December, 1841, Yarnhagen observes: " I 

 just received a note from Humboldt, inclosing a pam- 

 phlet of President Seckendorf 's, which also calls for a 

 4 representation' the ' re puro,' an incarnation of the 

 people. Humboldt observes : 4 Must be acceptable, 

 for without such an assurance he would not have dared 

 to publish it.' He concludes with significant melan- 

 choly : ' The atmosphere to me is gloomy and forebod- 

 ing. It is hard to be Humboldt, and to be obliged to 

 confess this, at the summit of honor, and in the fulness 

 of glory.' Indeed, he has but little pleasure, and his 

 satirical humor alone can make life here at all support- 

 able to him ! 



