Humboldt's Letters. 315 



tage before the members of other nations who live here, 

 that we care little or not at all about civil or political 

 affairs." Thus we boast on the shores of the Pacific, 

 buy the " Zeichen der Zeit," but hardly 5 per cent of 

 us go to the primary elections. It is inconvenient, we 

 think. With old love and reverence, 



Yours, A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



Was not the young Tyrolese very amiable poet Adolf 

 Pichler (properly speaking a geologist by trade) with 

 you ? I do not believe in peace during this quite .... 



or at least uncomfortable humiliating * 



year, though certainly in useless diplomatic transactions. 



NOTE BY YARNHAGEN. In the third line stands " Madame de 

 Quitzow," clearly a mistake instead of " Madame de Lieven." What 

 may have been the reason that that name, here entirely without mean- 

 ing, should have protruded itself) cannot be guessed. 



LATER NOTE BY YARNHAGEN. The Princess Lieven is closely con- 

 nected with the late Minister Guizot, they even say secretly married 

 to him. Guizot, pronounced German easily sounds Quitzow, a well- 

 known name in the Mark. Humboldt, always inclined to jesting, and 

 particularly here, may have given her this surname perhaps current 

 already at the court with full intention. [This is quite right] 



* These two words are illegible. 



