Humboldt's Letters. 187 



tic misfortunes of my family, my participation in the 

 dull and rain-spoiled Court festivities at Bruehl and 

 Stolzenfels was a hard trial for me. I will acquaint 

 Madame von Buelow to-morrow with your hearty sym- 

 pathy. Buelow's recovery progresses rapidly. Except 

 some weakness of memory, which, however, does not 

 appear for whole days, no change of mind is perceptible ; 

 relaxation, however, retirement, and tranquillity of 

 mind are still necessary. Always conscious of what he 

 owes to his character he resigns. You know, my noble 

 friend, that he demanded his dismissal when Itzstein 

 was violently expelled from Prussia. Public affairs are 

 now in a much worse condition. Buelow's retirement 

 from office is a sad event ; but the current of affairs in 

 Northern Germany is too strong to be arrested by the 

 effort of one individual. 



Please inform Professor Fichte that although I am 

 already an unworthy Doctor of Philosophy, I will 

 gratefully accept anything which may be offered me 

 from Wurtemberg's high-spirited Universities. 

 Yours affectionately, 



A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



I enclose to your safe-keeping a beautiful letter of 

 Prince Metternich, on whom I had called on the Johan- 

 nisberg ; a letter from Lord Stanley, the Minister ; and 

 two letters from Jules Janin and Spontini ; also a book 

 for the Countess of Stolberg. 



