1 58 Humboldt's Letters. 



ARAGO TO HUMBOLDT. 



PARIS, August 19th, 1834. 



MY DEAR FRIEND I cannot find words to tell you* 

 how sorry I am at having caused you a moment's 

 annoyance. Be persuaded, then, once for all, that what- 

 ever wrongs, real or apparent, you may have experienced 

 at my hands, you will never suffer that of my forgetting 

 how good you have always been to me. The friendship 

 which makes me so happy and proud, and which I have 

 shown to you, shall never be surpassed by yours for me. 

 I wanted, on the occasion of your kindly dedication, to 

 give a public evidence of my friendship, but various 

 circumstances arising out of my position, just now so 

 very difficult and complicated, prevented. I hope, how- 

 ever, that it is only delayed. 



I am sorry to learn that your health is not satisfac- 

 tory. Mine is very bad ; but I care little about it. All 

 that I daily see in this vile world of meanness, servi- 

 lity, and low passion, makes me look with indifference 



* Arago uses thou and thee in his letter to Humboldt the evidence 

 of great friendship and intimacy. 



