Humboldt's Letters. 357 



valuable to him to obtain a word of reference to the 

 matter from yourself, a bare hint as to whether any 

 relation of moment took place between you, or whether 

 he made any impression upon you ? I would not pre- 

 sume to trouble your Excellency, if I did not take for 

 granted that either a memento, or the contents of a 

 single line, would dispose of the matter ! 



The crowd and your Excellency's early departure 

 prevented me from making my salutation at the Artists' 

 Festival. It is more than twenty years since I have 

 ventured into such deep waters. 



Strange reports are in circulation. I hope it is only 

 a jest that presents M. Niebuhr as the Future Minister 

 of finance, and M. Wagener as Privy Councillor, with a 

 seat in the cabinet. 



With a repeated request of your indulgence, I remain, 

 with the most profound esteem, and in the most sincere 

 devotion, 



Your Excellency's most obedient, 



VABNHAGEX VON ENSE. 



On Humboldt's attack of sickness, Yarnhagen's diary 

 of February 27, 1857, contains the following: "M. 

 Hermann Grimm called, coming from Humboldt's apart- 

 ments, where he had conversed with Seiffert, the valet. 

 It is not a cold that has befallen Humboldt, but a far 

 more serious attack, a paralytic stroke. After the court 



