n8 Humboldt's Letters. 



afraid of him of this arch-aristocratic, utterly bigoted 

 (and consequently preposterous, nay, stupid) fanati- 

 cally anti-French Canitz, with his malicious and vulgar 

 sneers. ' But then you are a Tory yourself ! ' he added. 

 'As to that,' I replied, ' that is still somewhat doubtful 

 but as for Canitz, he is honest, strict, and straightfor- 

 ward ; he will do much, and as for the rest, business 

 and circumstances will control him.' " 



After Humboldt's return, Varnhagen writes on the 

 24th of February, in his diary : " Humboldt gave me 

 some very interesting descriptions of England. At 

 court the greatest magnificence ; the mode of living, 

 however, plain and easy; conversation unrestrained; 

 the tone very pleasant and cheerful, even between 

 gentlemen and ladies of adverse parties. Peel pleases 

 him as little as ever ; looks like a Dutchman ; is more 

 vain than ambitious, and narrow in his views. Lord 

 Aberdeen is invincibly taciturn, without being able to 

 convince people that his taciturnity covers anything 

 worth saying. Bunsen has shown the greatest want of 

 tact ; every one is against him, except the King, who 

 likes him better than ever." The whole visit of the 

 King was an intrigue of Bunsen, and was so understood 

 even by Englishmen. 



"Our affairs here are the subject of much conjec- 

 ture. As minister of foreign affairs the pious Arnim will, 



