Humboldt's Letters. 179 



nice perception of the " harmonious" in oratory, cannot 

 be denied him. There is really something noble in the 

 passion for speaking, upon every occasion, to thousands 

 of people. His generosity in sheltering " high officials 

 under the veil of the royal purple" will be but indiffe- 

 rently acknowledged. Does he, by this course, deliver 

 over to our assaults those small fry who obscure the 

 day? I am sorry that such a highly-gifted prince, 

 acting under the most benevolent incentives, and pre- 

 serving the full vigor of his mind, which constantly 

 urges him to action, is, in spite of his good intentions, 

 absolutely deceived as to the direction in which the 

 state is impelled. When Parry, with a number of 

 Esquimaux dogs, had started for the North Pole, dogs 

 and sledge were continually driven forward. When, 

 however, the sun broke through the mist, so that the 

 latitude could be taken, it was ascertained that the 

 expedition had unwittingly been carried backward 

 several degrees. A floating field of ice, drifting in a 

 southerly current, was the surface on which they 

 seemed to advance. Our ministers are the drifting, 

 icy surface. And may not the current be " the dog- 

 matische Missions-Philosophic ?" A. v. HT. 



It is now certain that the Empress (of Russia) will 

 not come. The King will, on the 15th, be in Sans 



Souci. 



