Humboldt's Letters. 251 



135. 



HUMBOLDT TO YARNHAGEN. 



POTSDAM, August 16th, 1849. 



WHENEVER I enjoy the fancy of having written a few 

 lines grateful to my ears, I always ask myself whether 

 they would also please you, my valued friend. You 

 know, or rather you do not know, that the Princess of 

 Prussia has deposited a splendid album, with numerous 

 autographs and painted initials, in those halls of the 

 Chateau at Weimar which have been dedicated to 

 Goethe, Schiller, and to Herder and Wieland, maligned 

 by Schiller hi his letters to Koerner. I have been com- 

 pelled to write a preface, which Galuski has translated 

 quite happily. The Grand-Duchess desired a French 

 version for the benefit of foreign travellers who might 

 open the album. Look upon this little memento of your 

 friend with indulgence. There is blood on the horizon, 

 and it makes me sad. I need not remind you of the 

 friendship and esteem of 



Yours, A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



SUNDAY. 



