262 Humboldt's Letters. 



144. 



HUMBOLDT TO BETTINA TON ARNIM. 

 (Copy in Yarnhagen's Handwriting.) 



BERLIN, June nth, 1851. 



You could not doubt, dear lady Baroness, that I 

 would respond with the greatest warmth to your wishes 

 for a composer of such sterling merit as * * * * In 

 consequence of malignant prejudices against music, 

 originated by my brother, and transmitted through the 

 King to me, my voice upon a subject which no one ever 

 mentions to me, is somewhat lacking in tone, particularly 

 when church music is in question. What with Warsaw, 

 Olmuetz, Russian Grand Dukes, and, to name something 

 of a higher order, Rauch's inspiring master-piece, it was 

 impossible hitherto to obtain a hearing. Warsaw is 

 now succeeded by Hanover, by the visit to your royal 

 friend and mine. I have not yet seen our monarch at 

 Potsdam again, and surrounded by all the horrors of a 

 cosmic transmigration, shall wait for the returning tide 

 from Warsaw (the alluvium of Batavian and Mecklen- 

 burgh highnesses), and when the rock-bound seas are 

 calm again, I shall go to work systematically, as your 



