248 Humboldt's Letters. 



134:. 



BERLIN, Jan. 18th, 1849. 



IP I appear slow, my dear Varnhagen, and rather 

 laconic to-day in offering you my thanks for your 

 friendly presents and your letter, and your congratula- 

 tions, you will not ascribe it to a diminution of my true 

 esteem and friendship. I have had but now the enjoy- 

 ment of what you alone are entitled to call " A Plain 

 Discourse.''* 



How much more fearful, and at the same time hopeful, 

 a turn events have taken. They only know how to 

 oppose brute force to the impending danger, and are 

 afraid themselves to pluck the proffered fruit. 



Romuald's u Vocation"! deserves, no doubt, the 

 severest censure. What an abuse of his most eminent 

 talents ! We will talk about it as soon as I shall have 

 done with the " OrdenstagJ" and the annoyances of the 



* A pamphlet under that title, written by Yarnhagen, in commen- 

 dation of the King. 2V. 



f Romuald ou la Vocation, par Mr. de Custine. Paris, 1848. 4 

 vols. 



\ The day on which the Prussian government yearly distributes 

 orders and decorations. 2V. 



