228 Humboldt's Letters. 



of men were comforted, and their minds opened to con- 

 viction. Nevertheless, the latter still remained for a 

 long time shrouded in the mists of pagan scepticism, 

 until at last scholastic philosophy was unhorsed by expe- 

 rimental science. Do you admit the force of my reason- 

 ing ? If you do, I have no doubt you will share my 

 fears that true scientific progress is in danger of being 

 checked by too ambitious spirits, who desire to rise from 

 the effects to the cause, and who finding the approach 

 cut off by the impassable barriers which God has set 

 upon human intelligence, and finding themselves unable 

 to advance, roll back upon themselves, and relapse into 

 the stupidity of paganism, in seeking the cause in the 

 effect ! 



The world, my dear Baron, is in a dangerous position. 

 The social body is in fermentation. You would do me 

 a great favor if you could teach me the nature of this 

 fermentation, whether it is spirituous, acid, or putrid ? 

 I greatly fear that the verdict will be for the last- 

 named of these kinds, and it is not I who could teach 

 you that these products are hardly beneficial. 



Be pleased to accept the thanks of my household for 

 your friendly memento, and the assurance of the con- 

 tinuance of my old attachment. 



METTEKNTCH. 



