140 Humboldt's Letters. 



A. seems unreliable, and Buelow's despatches cannot be 

 overloaded. I shall thank Mr. Carriere personally. The 

 " fossil" minister, I am told, has given evidence of his 

 vitality by an amiable letter to you ! My life is also 

 described " dans les biographies redigees par un homme 

 de rien," in which I am pictured as a socially-mali- 

 cious beast. Such things will not kill, nor will they 

 improve a man either. 



Always faithfully yours, A. v. HT. 



71. 



BERLIN, June 26th, 1843. 



I AM sure, dear friend, to afford you some enjoyment 

 by communicating to you (to you alone) a fragment of a 

 new volume by Eckermann. Remarkable adoration of 

 youthful vigor as the divine source of productiveness. 

 This is simply the adoration of an old man. Napoleonic 

 worship unrestrained by moral considerations. I most 

 fervently entreat you, not to show the sheet to our 

 child, also not to talk with Brockhaus about what 

 Eckermann has confided to me. It might possibly 

 damage him, and he is already unfortunate. I am con- 

 fident the two last volumes will have come to your 

 hands through Buschmann. The weather was very 



