182 Humboldt's Letters. 



edly, to my adopting the only road which, at present, 

 could lead to my promotion." The bantering hypocrite 

 was dumb. 



An entry of a later date (26th December, 1848), 

 speaks of the animosities to which Humboldt was sub- 

 jected in still stronger terms. "Humboldt has called; 

 He remained longer than an hour. He assures me that 

 were it not for his position at Court, he would not be 

 suffered to remain in the country, but would be expelled, 

 so strong is the hatred of the ultras and bigots against 

 him. It can hardly be described ; however, they 

 endeavor to discredit him with the King. In other 

 parts of Germany they would still less endure him, 

 were he once divested of the prestige of his position." 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



BERLIN, September IQth, 1844. 



CAN you command courage enough, dear friend, to 

 devote a few moments to a conversation on the present 

 state of French literature? I take the liberty to intro- 

 duce Mr. Jousserandot of Franche Comte, a French 

 novel-writer. He possesses much beard and much good- 

 natured vivacity. He is the son of a wealthy physician, 



