lyo Humboldt's Letters. 



acquirements as a botanist, and of the value of his con- 

 tributions to the store of botanical knowledge. 



Believe me, dear Baron de Humboldt, with sincere 

 esteem, Very faithfully yours, 



ROBERT PEEL. 



85. 



METTERNICH TO HUMBOLDT. 



YIENNA, October, 1843. 

 MY DEAR BARON : 



You were kind enough to present me a copy of your 

 "Asie Centrale." I call it your because discoveries 

 lawfully belong to those who make them, and because it 

 is often better to make a discovery than to become the 

 possessor of its results. 



I have begun the perusal of the work, which is among 

 those to which I look for mental relaxation, just as minds 

 differently constituted from mine are apt to have 

 recourse to light and futile productions. This is really 

 the case. I often feel the necessity of some relief from 

 my monotonous duties, and it is then that I seek fresh 

 elements of life and vigor in works of profound learning. 

 A book, therefore, like yours, is to me a source of the 





