358 Humboldt's Letters. 



ball oh Tuesday evening he felt unwell, in the night he 

 left his bed to drink some water wished to avoid dis- 

 turbing the servant and fell upon the floor. Seiffert 

 awoke with the noise, and found his master speechless 

 and unconscious ; it was some time before he revived. 

 Privy Councillor Schoenlein is not sanguine; he had 

 not a very good night. 



Humboldt's loss would be irreparable. He is a coun- 

 terpoise to so much that is mean and contemptible, which, 

 after his death, would boldly seek the light and glory in 

 its own depravity. The honor and influence of science 

 are embodied in him, and both would sink if he were 

 taken away. There is not now a name in Germany, or 

 in Europe, like his, not an influence in Berlin more exten- 

 sive or more generally recognised than his. And how 

 painful would his loss be to me ! His name and his inter- 

 course is attached to fifty years of my life, he has known 

 those who were near and dear to us of old ! 



Under March 14th, Varnhagen narrates in his diary : 

 " When the King was with Humboldt, Schoenlein said 

 to the latter, that he would not be able for some time 

 to stand firmly on his left side, to which Humboldt 

 rejoined : i For all that, it will not be necessary for me 

 to sit on the right with Gerlach.' "* 



* Leader of the most reactionary part7. 3h 



