142 Humboldt's Letters. 



will take leave of the King to-night and expects to start 

 to-morrow Wednesday for Schlangenbad. His wife 

 and two oldest daughters are going with him. I write 

 this in view of the impossibility of my embracing you 

 before your departure. The torchlight procession at 

 Diisseldorf could shed light on many a thing. I enclose 

 the little speech for you, as you like to preserve every- 

 thing concerning your friends. 

 Yours, 



A. HT. 



73. 



HUMBOLDT TO YARNHAGEK 



SANS Souci, August 27th, 1843. 



How could I be, my dear friend, otherwise than 

 alive to the duty of thanking you at once for your 

 precious gift, and for the affectionate souvenir of one 

 whose life is gradually vanishing? I know nothing 

 more graceful in composition, in sympathy of concep- 

 tion, in elegance of language, and in appropriate scenic 

 surroundings, than your " Lebensbilder^ which serve 

 at the same time as correct commentaries upon all the 

 valuable literature of our time. How generous you are 



