184 Humboldt's Letters. 



Liuzerne ipsissimls verbis and all that on account of 

 my Kosmos, page 381. The King had already been 

 told that my book was the work of a demagogue and 

 an infidel. Whereupon the King wrote me, that he 

 could but say what Alfons said to Tasso : 



"And so I hold it in my hand at last 

 And call it mine, if I may use that wordl" 



This is poetical and very civil. 



With the sincerest gratitude, yours, 



A. V. HUMBOLDT. 



Q5. 



HUMBOLDT TO YARNHAGEN. 



BERLIN, WEDNESDAY, June 4th, 1845. 



I RECOGNISED at once from the gracefulness of style 

 the guardian spirit of my feeble literary efforts. I had 

 not yet seen the precious sheet, containing, in addition, 

 the interpretations by Neander. I avail myself of the 

 last moment before breaking up, to write you a preli- 

 minary word of sincerest thanks for one of the most 

 interesting life sketches for which we are indebted to 

 your brilliant and vivifying pen. You have represented 

 with dignity and magnificence a subject, which popular 



