Humboldt's Letters. 255 



which you devote to the hours we passed in times but 

 recently gone by, which the course of events, however, 

 seems already to have thrust back into antediluvian 

 periods. 



I see with joyous gratitude that the conversations in 

 my red saloon in the Tuileries and in St. Cloud, ever 

 present to myself, still live in your recollection also, and 

 thank your Excellency for this constancy of sentiments, 

 doubly precious at a time like this. 



The kindness of my beloved cousin had already ena- 

 bled me to refresh myself by the perusal of your latest 

 work, which is hailed as a fountain of health by so many 

 hearts smitten by the rude hand of fate, and minds 

 stunned by the wild confusion of public events ; and 

 my son has also found nourishment in it to assuage his 

 thirst of knowledge. Nevertheless, I thank you most 

 cordially for the jewel you have sent, which receives 

 additional value from being accompanied by your letter. 



As you say, in words so mild and yet so truly appro- 

 priate, " Men are at present laboring at a fable con- 

 venue ; they strive in part after what is unattainable, 

 and in which they themselves do not believe !" But 

 where will the light appear that is to lead them to the 

 truth, and what events will yet be required to convince 

 them of the impracticability of the most contradictory 

 demands? I agree with your Excellency in thinking 

 that the present tranquillity is destined to be of brief 



