136 Humboldt's Letters. 



not relinquish his favorite views, even when he seems to 

 abandon them. The King was more satisfied with Count 

 Maltzan than with any one else of his ministers; he 

 placed full confidence in him believed him capable of 

 anything. We had a dispute about the signification of 

 the word ; ingenious,' and how far it could be applied 

 to the King. Humboldt thinks the King intends going 

 to Greece, and to extend his journey to Jerusalem. It 

 was to be feared, however, that the parsons would at last 

 get control of him, and destroy his cheerfulness. Hum- 

 boldt goes to Eu on business, with the King of France ; 

 then to Paris. Will be back at Berlin in December." 



Vamhagen speaks of a call made by Humboldt after 

 his return from Paris, in his diary of the 18th March, 

 1843, as follows: "Humboldt came to see me; he 

 looks much older since I last saw him, but his spirit 

 and courage are fresh. In Paris he was happy and 

 gay ; here his spirits sank at once. Things here were 

 going on miserably, he says ; the old beaten track treat- 

 ing matters of dangerous character in a spirit of childish 

 frivolity. And besides that, he is overrun with applica- 

 tions and requests ; every one wishes to secure his influ- 

 ence ! ' Influence !' said he ; c nobody has any ! Even 

 Bunsen and Radowitz, the King's favorites, have none. 

 All that they are capable of is to anticipate the weak 

 fancies of the King, and obey them. Should they 

 attempt anything beyond this, their overthrow is cer- 



