21 6 Humboldt's Letters. 



my solemn discourse before the Academy. It would 

 make me happy to think that it gave you a little plea- 

 sure to receive this mark of my high and profound 

 regard. 



Yours, VICTOR HUGO. 



113. 



FRIEDRICH RUECKERT TO HTJMBOLDT. 



BERLIN, March, 1846. 



I HAD the misfortune of twice missing your Excellency 

 when I called to give you my thanks for your great 

 kindness, and at the same time to bid you a hearty 

 farewell, as to-morrow I hasten to my rustic solitude. 

 May God grant you many felicitous hours for the happy 

 completion of your great work, for which I now am 

 more heartily anxious than for any work of my own. 

 For it is the monument of honor for Germany, her repre- 

 sentative work before the nations of Europe ; and I, as a 

 German, feel proud that you did not write it in French. 

 I would also ask your leave to introduce to you my eldest 

 son, who is private tutor at the university of Jena ; now, 

 he may try his luck himself with you, as bearer of this 

 letter. Finally, I beg of you that you will speak in my 





