224 Humboldt's Letters. 



friendly praises expressed by you are of course to be 

 ascribed to the kindness of heart which prompts you to 

 give pleasure to an old man, still there is a large margin 

 for the unalloyed gratification of my love of approbation. 

 The main object of my efforts is that of composition in 

 the precise sense of the word, the command of large 

 masses of matter compounded with care and with an 

 accurate knowledge of details. The management of 

 our beautiful, pliant, harmonious, and drastic tongue is 

 but a secondary consideration. I shall certainly find an 

 opportunity of availing myself of your excellent advice 

 for Flemming and Mad. de Sevigne. Seneca also, though 

 I consider him a little bombastic (Quaest. natur.) I have 

 taken home with me for perusal. 



Now for the special purpose of these lines. The King 

 said to me on going to bed yesterday, "Let Bettina 

 know that she may make her mind easy in regard to the 

 leading person.* No one ever thought of giving him 

 up to the Russians." " You should write her to that 

 effect yourself," said I. " Yes, I hope to do so," was the 

 answer. He spoke very kindly of Bettina. 

 With my old attachment, yours, 



A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



"WEDNESDAY. 



How sad is this eighth attack upon the King ! Strange 

 * Microslawski. 



