

Humboldt's Letters. 293 



boldt rightly condemns the mean misjudgment of his 

 brother. 



" The letter of Bunsen is written in a very unconnected 

 manner Humboldt calls it an * unkempt ' one, which 

 characterizes it admirably. Bunsen intends to live for 

 the future in Bonn, but he complains that the university 

 has deteriorated so much, particularly the theological 

 faculty. Dorner and Rothe have been jostled out, and 

 their places are held by the most mediocre and narrow- 

 minded people to be found in all Germany, such as 

 Lange and Steinmeyer; from Hengstenberg's study, 

 through Gerlach, all bends, he says, to ignorance and 

 darkness, the present gloomy period of the most intel- 

 lectual king of the century will come to be deplored 

 even more grievously than the age of Woellner ; every 

 thing is imbued with the reactionary political character 

 of the squirearchy; hypocrisy and real infidelity can 

 grow out of this unholy system, and a most violent 

 reaction must ensue ; body-guards and policemen can 

 enforce any political programme as long as it lasts ; but 

 the German never submits to the enthralment of the 

 mind, and his curse will pursue through all the centu- 

 ries those who have attempted it. Thus writes Bunsen ! 

 But he writes thus now as a deposed favorite ! How 

 was he, and for what did he work before ? For the 

 same ignorance and darkness. Quite like Radowitz, 

 who also played the liberal at last !" 



