Humboldt's Letters. 181 



speculations, as to whether they have improved their 

 position. It is with them as with the Prince " Teh 1 me 

 whether I am amusing myself." 



Yours, 



A. v. HT. 



We insert here an entry in Varnhagen's diary, dated 

 June 26, 1844, reciting two sharp repartees of Hum- 

 boldt. At the Royal table at Sans Souci, some time 

 ago, Humboldt shot two well-directed arrows from his 

 bow. The conversation turned on some Russian ordi- 

 nance, and Humboldt, in speaking of it, mentioned 

 repeatedly the Minister of Public Instruction. " You 

 have mistaken, sir," said the King. " It was not the 

 Minister of Public Instruction who acted in this matter, 

 but the Minister of Enlightenment." Humboldt, not in 

 the least discountenanced, hastened to reply, "Very 

 well, Sire ; then it was not the Minister of Public 

 Instruction, but of its opposite," and continued his con- 

 versation in his usual way. 



The following anecdote is still neater : General Leo- 

 pold von Gerlach, who is fond of badinage, attempted an 

 attack upon Humboldt some time ago, saying to him, 

 " Your Excellency frequently goes to church, l now-a- 

 days,' do you not?" He hoped to perplex him with 

 the question. Humboldt, however, coolly replied, " Your 

 ' now-a-days' is very kind of you. You allude, undoubt- 



