192 Humboldt's Letters. 



100. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



POTSDAM, 26th of September, 1845. 

 (To his dear friend, the Privy Councillor von Yarnhagen.) 



KINGS AND REPUBLICS. 



Por lo que desio la conversacion de los Reyes desio la 

 conversacion de ellos dentro de los limites permitidos. 

 Un grave consejero dixo al Rey Don Phelipe II., viendo 

 que iva en diversas ocasiones al poder absolute : Senor, 

 "reconoced a Dios en la tierra como en el cielo, por que 

 ne se cause de las monarquias, suave govierno si los 

 Reyes suavemente usan de el. Cartas cfe Antonio 

 Perez^p. 545. 



At the time of the insurrection of the Netherlands 

 there had already been raised the question, " Whether 

 the Kings were going off." I translate the passage from 

 Antonio Perez for you. He says : It is because I desire 

 the preservation of monarchs that I advise them to 

 remain in the limits prescribed for them. A wise Coun- 

 sellor said to the King Philip II., being aware of his ten- 

 dency to absolute power : " Sire, recognise the supre- 

 macy of God on earth as well as in Heaven, so that Go * 



