132 Humboldt's Letters. 



the Oranienburger Strasse, I have not even an ink? ,and 

 on my table. 



At present, nothing more than my best thanks. I 

 have told Marheineke myself how dear he is to me. A 

 thunderstorm, in the form of a cabinet order, suddenly 

 growling through the papers, and exhibiting a few 

 flashes of censorial absurdities, would be preferable to 

 that impracticable law, the assigning of a Grand Inqui- 

 sitor to the liberty of the press. We have so much to 

 say to each other, I hope to see you yet before your 

 departure. Think only of the enlivening presence of 

 four Crown-Princes and throne-successors one lame in 

 the knees, and pale ; the other a drunken Icelander ; 

 the third blind, and politically raving; and the last 

 capricious and infirm in intellect. And this is the 

 approaching generation of the monarchical world. 



Yours, A. HT. 



I accompany the King to the Rhine. That I had no 

 mind to become a mere color-stand at Petersburg will 

 be understood by you. The Chancellor has always the 

 pleasure of being the subject of vulgar recrimination on 

 the part of those who are either not invited or refuser 1 

 admittance to the banquet. What an excitement ^lass 

 beads, peacock plumes, and ribbons can stir up among 

 men !*.... 



* Allusion to the new order pour le merite. 



