Humboldt's Letters. 333 



coughing; influenza, and rheumatic compression of the 

 chest. 



With the best wishes for your Excellency's welfare, I 

 remain in profound reverence and gratitude, 



Your obedient YAENHAGKN voif ENSE. 



183. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



BERLIN, Sep. 24th, 1856. 



BEFORE I bury myself again for some days in Pots- 

 dam, a sacrifice to the Queen and to her solitude, I 

 shall, dear friend, justify the Grand Duke and myself. 

 The Grand Duke visited you, which honors him, not to 

 consult you, but out of respect for your fine talents and 

 your character, because he had, as he said, inherited the 

 idea from his house, that one must see two men in 

 Berlin, you and me. That we must both accept with 

 gratitude as an inheritance from the old gentleman 

 and the Imperial Highness, who is a worthy lady. He 

 had not at all the idea to speak with you of what he 

 seeks and never will find (equal inclination for science 

 and poetry, history of geographical discoveries, art, 

 painting, gems and sculpture, refined social manners, 

 fluent French speaking and writing, also reading aloud). 

 That bantling is yet unborn. I sai^j^aviserai^ and quite 



