1 44 Humboldt's Letters. 



matic scenes), and is the best done. What a startling 

 effect such a book must have, even on those who detest 

 justifying themselves. "II y a des longueurs de decla- 

 mations," something of rhetorical blackening, which is 

 tiresome. I find the publication of the hypertragical 

 letter (of Princess Trubetzkoi) very wrong. Were it not 

 for the irritation necessarily caused by the publication 

 of this letter, we might have looked for some salvation 

 from a new petition. What justification is there for 

 risking so much, even for murder ? I am also disgusted 

 by the worship of those literary trifles by Mad. de 

 Girardin and Mad. Gay. Such worship could, perhaps, 

 be allowed in a beautiful Grand-Duchess. 



That the " Saint-Simonism" was invented by a Prus- 

 sian business-man, amuses me very much. As it con- 

 cerns Konigsberg, I will keep it secret. 



HUMBOLDT TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA. 



BERLIN, Dec. 29, 1843. 

 YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS : 



I HAVE the honor, most humbly, to inform you that the 

 box containing the universal siderial clock of the inven- 

 tors, D. and H. v. A , together with your gracious 



