356 Humboldt's Letters. 



other ends, and will probably be successful. Never- 

 theless, I am without anxiety for the future, the light 

 cannot be extinguished and must triumph ; it is only 

 the moment of darkness that is hard to bear. 



With the best wishes, in the greatest veneration and 

 devotion, 



I remain your Excellency's most obedient, 

 VAENHAGEN VON ENSE. 



197- 



VARNHAGEN TO HUMBOLDT. 



BERLIN, February 20th, 1857. 



WILL your Excellency pardon me for trespassing on 

 your valuable time a moment ? Not for myself, but for 

 a literary project from which I cannot withhold my 

 personal interest, if only on the score of old acquaintance! 

 Professor Francis Hoffmann, of Wuerzburg, is engaged 

 upon the publication of the works of Francis von Baader, 

 which he pursues with self-sacrificing perseverance. I 

 may say against wind and tide. He is about closing the 

 enterprise with a sketch of the life of his author, and is 

 anxious not to pass over unmentioned the fact, that 

 Baader attended the Mining Academy at Freiberg, at 

 the same time with your Excellency. It would be in- 



