Humboldt's Letters. 209 



not the pleasure of knowing the late Baron personally, 

 I was not unacquainted with the true affection of the 

 uncle for his nephew, and I heard frequent mention of 

 the enthusiastic manner in which it was reciprocated. 

 Moreover, I knew his repute as that of a noble, talented, 

 clear-sighted man. Would that I could indite words 

 of consolation, such as I heard them, at the time of my 

 great loss ! but it is not given to every one to speak 

 them. That time heals our bleeding wounds, the 

 wounds which at first seemed mortal, I myself have 

 experienced ; that death after a short suffering is prefer- 

 able to death after a long one, is a truth which impresses 

 itself often on my mind ! 



The chancellor, Herr von Wegnern, communicated to 

 me on the 27th ult. the letter which he received from 

 your Excellency. This letter contains the first news I 

 received since Nov. 7th, of last year, respecting the 

 portrait by which our most gracious monarch intended 

 to gratify a poor invalid : that your letter was ex- 

 tremely gratifying and consoling to me, is natural. It 

 created the first ray of hope ; it has unceasingly occupied 

 me ; it even gave rise to some kind of superstition, and 

 I attributed my good health the whole month of Decem- 

 ber to the vivid hopes it had raised. This prospect of 

 the restoration of my health, I thought, gave me hope 

 of being able to indulge for a longer period in the plea- 

 sure which the dear picture of the "most highly revered 





