222 Humboldt's Letters. 



118. 



DUCHESS HELENE D'ORLEANS TO HUMBOLDT. 



NEUILLY, May 12th, 1845. 



YOUR Excellency must suffer me often to claim your 

 services ; but to-day I come to ask something great of 

 you. I wish for myself and for my cousin of Weimar 

 the instructive pleasure of visiting Versailles in your 

 society ; our plan is to go there on Thursday. For the 

 evening, the King invites you for dinner and theatre in 

 Trianon. If you have the courage to share our altered 

 pilgrimage, I invite your Excellency to be here in 

 Neuilly, Thursday, half-past 11, to accompany us on our 

 journey. But if other occupations should prevent you 

 from going, I ask an open confession. 



I beg your Excellency to receive the expression of 

 my sincerest esteem, 



HELENE. 



